DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many attacks have been made on Kandahar airbase in each of the last 12 months; what the average number of daily attacks against Kandahar airbase was in the last three months, broken down by day of the week; and what type of munitions have been used against Kandahar airbase.

Des Browne: The following table shows the number of attacks for each of the last 12 complete months.
	
		
			   Number of attacks 
			  2007  
			 May 5 
			 June 0 
			 July 1 
			 August 3 
			 September 3 
			 October 3 
			 November 4 
			 December 3 
			   
			  2008  
			 January 0 
			 February 1 
			 March 4 
			 April 3 
			 May 7 
		
	
	The following table shows the daily average number of attacks for each day of the week over the past three months.
	
		
			  Day of the Week  Daily average attacks 
			 Monday 0.15 
			 Tuesday 0.08 
			 Wednesday 0.00 
			 Thursday 0.38 
			 Friday 0.31 
			 Saturday 0.00 
			 Sunday 0.15 
		
	
	Kandahar airfield has been attacked with 107mm, 122mm and unknown calibre rockets. Incidents involving the launch of multiple rockets are classed as one attack.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rocket attacks there were on Kandahar airbase in each year since 2001.

Des Browne: The following table shows the number of rocket attacks on Kandahar Airfield by year. Prior to 2006, no rocket attacks were recorded by UK forces.
	
		
			   Number of attacks 
			 2006 42 
			 2007 32 
			 2008 (to 31 May) 15 
		
	
	Incidents involving the launch of multiple rockets are classed as one attack.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies manage the  (a) television,  (b) internet and  (c) telephone contracts for (i) the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak Hospital and (ii) Headley Court rehabilitation centre.

Derek Twigg: At Selly Oak hospital, where the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine is based, telephone, internet and television services are provided under contract by Premier Telesolutions.
	At Headley Court internet and telephony services are provided under the Defence Fixed Telecommunications service with BT. The televisions that are provided in communal areas of the unit are not managed by a contractor.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the most recent estimated cost of the Future Rapid Effects System programme is.

Bob Ainsworth: The cost of the Future Rapid Effect System family of armoured vehicles will be fixed at the main investment decisions. It is our policy not to release or discuss programme costs ahead of the main investment decisions.

Ballistic Missile Defence

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether  (a) he,  (b) Ministers and  (c) officials have had recent discussions with counterparts in the United States administration on the possibility of deploying anti-missile interceptors at United Kingdom bases.

Des Browne: No discussions of this nature have taken place.

Ballistic Missile Defence

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many discussions he has had with  (a) NATO and  (b) Russia on Ballistic Missile Defence in the last 12 months.

Des Browne: The issue of ballistic missile defence is routinely discussed at a high level in a number of NATO and bilateral forums.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Headcount 
			   Strength  Percentage of employees 
			 Male 53,610 63.9 
			 Female 30,320 36.1 
			 Ethnic minority 2,060 3.0 
			 Disabled 3,320 5.5 
			  Source: DASA (Quad-Service) 
		
	
	MOD civilian statistics above exclude staff employed as locally engaged civilians, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel for whom details of gender, ethnic minority status and disability status are not centrally reported.
	Percentage of MOD civilian from ethnic minority and disabled staff are based on known voluntary declaration and excludes staff of unknown declaration.
	The number of MOD civilian employees recorded as  (e) not heterosexual, is not held by the Department.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what proportion of its staff his Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Derek Twigg: All service and civilian personnel complete some form of vocational training as there are a number of training courses which personnel have to complete as part of their core or functional training throughout their career. In addition a wide variety of courses, education and work-related attachments are provided on an elective basis.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence does not hold data on the amount of food waste generated over the past five years.

Military Aid

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions military aircraft have been used for humanitarian aid since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: Details of the usage of military aircraft used for humanitarian aid are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Weapons

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK Trident warhead complies with the guideline that insensitive high explosive should be used for the supercharge in a nuclear weapon, as specified in JSP 538 regulation of the nuclear weapon programme, Annex G, on safety principles and guidelines for nuclear weapons systems.

Des Browne: I am withholding the information requested, as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice national security.

World War II: Military Decorations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the medals given to  (a) RAF servicemen for service during the Second World War and  (b) RAF servicemen who were part of the Bomber Command in the Second World War.

Derek Twigg: Armed forces personnel, including members of the Royal Air Force, could qualify for a range of medals and campaign Stars instituted for service during the second world war. Individuals who met the qualifying criteria could qualify for the following campaign Stars:
	1939-45 Star
	Air Crew Europe Star
	Atlantic Star
	Africa Star
	Italy Star
	France and Germany Star
	Burma Star
	Pacific Star
	The regulations specified that in certain circumstances the 1939-45 Star had to be earned before additional Stars could be awarded.
	In addition, the Defence Medal was instituted for non-operational service in potentially hazardous locations and the War Medal 1939-45 was issued to all armed forces personnel who had completed 28 days service.
	Personnel who served as members of Bomber Command, and who met the appropriate qualifying criteria, could receive the following campaign Stars and medals:
	1939-45 Star
	Air Crew Europe Star
	Atlantic Star
	France and Germany Star
	Defence Medal
	War Medal 1939-45

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Translation Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much was spent by her Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office spent £1,390.61 on interpretation (signing) services in 2007-08.

Smoking

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many smoking shelters were built at each of the Government Equalities Office's London buildings in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: Since its establishment in October 2007, the Government Equalities Office has sub-let offices in buildings run by the Department of Communities and Local Government and I refer you to the response given by them to the smoking shelters question.

WALES

Council Housing: Property Transfer

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on its evaluation of the results of housing stock transfer in Wales.

Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on a range of issues.
	Housing stock transfer in Wales is devolved. The Assembly Government's overall policy in relation to housing and stock transfer, as set out in the "One Wales" document, is to ensure that social housing in Wales meets 21st century standards—the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS). Local authorities in Wales are required to submit annual 30-year Housing Revenue Account business plans demonstrating how they intend to achieve and maintain the standard, or to submit a notice that the council has resolved to ballot tenants on a stock transfer to a registered social landlord.
	Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Monmouthshire and Torfaen have transferred their housing stock.
	Conwy, Merthyr and Newport are progressing stock transfer proposals following ballots in favour.
	Blaenau Gwent, Ceredigion and Gwynedd have resolved to ballot their tenants on stock transfer proposals.
	Anglesey, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Pembrokeshire and the Vale of Glamorgan are retaining their housing stock. Their business plans are being reviewed.
	The Welsh Assembly Government aims to have the WHQS delivered as early as possible in each local authority area. Evaluation is individual to each local authority, when it submits its business plan, and is based on regular meetings with the Welsh Local Government Association, local authority leaders and housing officers.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Cycling

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she expects to announce that contracts have been signed on the Olympic Velopark.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The Olympic Delivery Authority announced on the 8 May that ISG InteriorExterior had been awarded the contract to construct the Velodrome. The designs for the Velopark are continuing to be developed by a design consortium, led by Hopkins Architects, and they are due to be finalised this summer.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The staffing information containing the gender breakdown of the Scotland Office are published in the Office's Annual Report; available in the House Library or on our website at:
	http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/
	As the Scotland Office is a small organisation, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Office does not disclose specific numbers of staff by ethnicity or disability for privacy reasons.
	Scotland Office staff are not required to provide any details of their sexuality, so information on this is not available.

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: Staff appraisals for the year 2007-08 have just been completed.
	No performance-related payments have been paid to date, and so a breakdown is not available.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received since June 2007 from the leaders of political parties in Northern Ireland  (a) supporting and  (b) opposing the extension of the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland; what response was given to those representations; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: On 9 May 2008 I received a copy of the letter from the leaders of the four main political parties in Northern Ireland that was sent to all Members of the House expressing concern at the possibility of extending the provisions of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. I have not received any representations from party leaders supporting the extension of the Act to Northern Ireland.
	I replied on 3 June to say that that the Government were aware there is no support among the political parties in Northern Ireland to alter the law on abortion, and to repeat our assurance that we have no plans to amend the law on abortion to include Northern Ireland. The Government consider that the best forum for discussion of these questions is the Northern Ireland Assembly, once it has assumed responsibility for the criminal law.
	My reply of 3 June was sent to all hon. and right hon. Members for information and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Age of Consent

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on lowering of the age of consent in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The draft Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, which was agreed by the House of Commons on 3 June contains a new offence of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16. This means that it will be an offence for a person to engage in any sexual activity, not just sexual intercourse, with a child or young person under that age. We have seen no specific evidence to suggest that the criminal law in Northern Ireland should continue to be at variance with the rest of the UK on this issue, and are supported in this view by numerous children's organisations, including the NSPCC, Barnardo's, Children's Law Centre, Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner, as well as from representatives within the social services sector.

Crime

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage the public to report crime in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: Successful policing requires the community to work in partnership with the police. Each PSNI district command unit works with District Policing Partnerships, Community Safety Partnerships, elected representatives and community leaders to build strong and effective working relationships with all members of the community. This trust is essential for the public to report crime. At the regional level, media appeals and public awareness campaigns are run to encourage the public to report crime. For example, in the last three months advertisements aimed at increasing crime reporting appeared on billboards, buses, posters in retail and community premises, and in pubs and clubs across Northern Ireland.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convictions were secured for the offence of driving without insurance in each of the last five years, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Paul Goggins: The following table gives the number of convictions for driving without insurance broken down by parliamentary constituency.
	Data cover the calendar years 2002 to 2006 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			  Convictions for driving without insurance( 1)  by parliamentary constituency 2002-06 
			  Parliamentary constituency  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Belfast East 172 127 209 209 182 
			 Belfast North 276 269 466 288 257 
			 Belfast South 164 148 209 148 159 
			 Belfast West 380 272 404 307 216 
			 East Antrim 168 130 168 141 105 
			 East Londonderry 189 156 204 212 170 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 240 197 152 170 307 
			 Foyle 271 312 301 352 240 
			 Lagan Valley 121 152 140 130 122 
			 Mid Ulster 184 134 136 149 200 
			 Newry and Armagh 224 294 259 315 301 
			 North Antrim 211 163 172 139 210 
			 North Down 181 130 159 125 118 
			 South Antrim 147 145 236 162 147 
			 South Down 175 165 179 200 186 
			 Strangford 161 119 166 175 189 
			 Upper Bann 236 275 237 259 200 
			 West Tyrone 288 208 201 181 243 
			 Missing(2) 413 352 203 222 316 
			 Total 4,201 3,748 4,201 3,884 3,868 
			 (1) Includes the offences 'no insurance' and 'causing no insurance'. (2) Missing data relate to those offenders for whom parliamentary constituency information is not available.

Firearms: Theft

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many legally held weapons were stolen from properties in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following answer:
	Statistics are captured on the basis of Police Districts and Areas, and therefore the information requested is not readily available.
	The Chief Constable will write to the hon. Member to provide an answer in due course, and the letter will be placed in the House Library.

Hillsborough Castle: Official Hospitality

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1385W, on Hillsborough castle: official hospitality, what the cost of each reception held in Hillsborough castle was in the last three financial years.

Shaun Woodward: I will publish in due course a list providing information relating to official receptions hosted by Ministers in this Department in the 2007-08 financial year.

Kidnapping

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attempted child abductions were reported to the police in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following answer:
	Statistics are captured on the basis of Police Districts and Areas, and therefore the information requested is not readily available.
	The Chief Constable will write to the hon. Member to provide an answer in due course, and the letter will be placed in the House Library.

Small Businesses: Crime Prevention

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advice and assistance is provided by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to owners of small businesses on the prevention and detection of crime.

Paul Goggins: The chief constable has provided the following answer:
	The Policing Plan 2008-2011 contains two targets specifically related to business crime.
	These targets call for the police to:
	work in partnership with relevant agencies to tackle business crime; and
	work in partnership with the business community to develop a business crime strategy.
	Crime Prevention Officers provide advice to small businesses throughout Northern Ireland. The PSNI also engage with Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Northern Ireland Independent Retailers Association to identify crime problems and provide tailored solutions including an offer of crime prevention advice to each FSB branch in Northern Ireland.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Architecture

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on the online database under the Engaging Places programme.

Margaret Hodge: £23,500 has been spent on the online component of the Engaging Places programme (including an editorial strategy). The website is currently being developed by Culture24 and makes use of Culture24's existing online database technology.

Departmental Catering

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2008,  Official Report, column 325W, on the Fairtrade initiative, how much his Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this total was spent on Fairtrade products.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department spent the following on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2007-08 51,838 
			 2006-07 49,954 
			 2005-06 56,223 
		
	
	The Department does not hold information on the percentage relating to Fairtrade products.

Departmental Official Visits

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times he has visited  (a) commercial leisure organisations,  (b) licensed bingo clubs and  (c) dance schools in the last 12 months; when his last visit to each such organisation was; and what the location of visit was in each case.

Andy Burnham: I have not visited any commercial leisure organisations, licensed bingo clubs or dance schools in an official capacity since becoming Secretary of State.

Eurovision Song Contest

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial contribution was made by the BBC towards the cost of the Eurovision Song Contest in each of the last 10 years.

Andy Burnham: The BBC is an independent body and financial contributions towards the cost of the Eurovision Song Contest are a matter for the BBC.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, column 325W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what Fairtrade products are  (a) available for purchase in his Department's staff catering facilities and  (b) offered at official departmental meetings and engagements; what value of Fairtrade produce was purchased in his Department's staff catering facilities in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of total revenue this represented.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not hold information on the type of Fairtrade products available or the value of Fairtrade items purchased.
	The Department does encourage its catering contractor to make Fairtrade products available in the staff catering facilities and for official departmental meetings and engagements wherever possible.

Gambling: Young People

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were  (a) prosecuted,  (b) fined and  (c) cautioned for underage gambling in each of the last 10 years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

National Railway Museum: York

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department provided to the National Railway Museum in York in 2007; and how much it expects to provide to the museum in 2008.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The National Railway Museum is a branch of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not earmark funding for a particular branch of the NMSI, and under the arms-length principle is not involved in the decision-making process whereby NMSI decides how DCMS funding is distributed to the NRM.
	In 2007-08, DCMS provided £38,484,000 grant in aid to the NMSI; in 2008-09, it expects to provide £39,158,000.

Sports: Facilities

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that sports facilities and playing surfaces are maintained in good condition in the long term; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In 2007-08 Sport England invested £248 million to support community sport, of which £113.3 million was grant in aid and £134.6 million was lottery.
	Investment through programmes like Community Club Development and the National Sports Foundation assisted both National Governing Bodies and local community sports clubs to develop over 1,700 capital projects over the last five years.
	Where a sports project has benefited from a capital award from Sport England, there is a requirement within the funding agreement for the facility to be maintained for the life of the award. Projects are required to set aside "sinking funds" for the life cycle of the facility or pitch to allow for routine planned maintenance and for the renewal of major elements of the facility such as indoor floor finishes, plant and outdoor playing surfaces. The term of the grant varies according to the scale of investment made. Typically, on a grant award over £50,000, Sport England requires a minimum of 21 years sporting outputs.

St. George's Day

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on promoting St. George's Day in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: The Department promoted St. George's Day by flying the St. George's flag on 23 April.
	The estimated spend in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   Estimated spend (£) 
			 2004(1) 0 
			 2005(1) 0 
			 2006(1) 0 
			 2007 114 
			 2008 116 
			 (1 )The Department did not fly the St. George's flag until 2007.

St. George's Day

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with English Heritage on its St. George's Day campaign.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has had no specific discussions this year with English Heritage regarding St. George's Day.

St. George's Day

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department took to celebrate St. George's Day in 2008.

Margaret Hodge: On 23 April, the Department flew the St. George's flag alongside the Union flag to celebrate St. George's Day.

St. George's Day

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to provide funding to local authorities for the celebration of St. George's Day.

Margaret Hodge: The Department does not fund local authorities in this way.
	Local authorities are core funded through Government financial settlements administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Algeria: Christianity

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of  (a) steps taken by the Algerian government against Christian denominations and  (b) the prosecution of Habiba Konider for possession of a Bible; what his policy is on the account taken of the need for toleration of all faiths by participants in the proposed EU-Mediterranean partnership; and what representations he has made to the Algerian government on these matters.

Kim Howells: I am aware of reports emerging from Algeria concerning the closure of unauthorised churches and the detention of Christians accused of evangelisation. Our officials in Algiers and London continue to monitor developments. On 30 May, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London met with Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a non-governmental organisation which raises awareness of restrictions on the freedom of religion and belief across the world, including in Algeria.
	In respect of Habiba Konider, I am aware that she is a 37-year-old Algerian national, currently facing prosecution for evangelisation. She was allegedly found in possession of more than 10 copies of the bible and was, as a result, arrested on 29 March 2008. The unauthorised possession of multiple copies of religious books is considered an offence according to the new Algerian law on the practice of worship by non-Muslims, adopted in February 2006. The trial is ongoing, with the court having suspended a verdict pending further investigation.
	The situation of the right to freedom of religion and belief in Algeria was raised on 14 April during Algeria's examination under the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review, which the UK participated in. Additionally, the EU-Algeria Association agreement, which came into force in September 2005, restates that the principles and fundamental human rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an essential part of the agreement and must be followed by both signatories. The EU will continue to raise questions of human rights in Algeria.
	The Government are involved in EU discussions on the proposal to upgrade the Barcelona Process in light of President Sarkozy's proposals for a Union for the Mediterranean. At this stage the discussions are focused on the governance and activities of the new arrangements. The Government are keen that the new arrangements will better advance the implementation of the Barcelona Declaration, including on promoting dialogue, respect for human rights and a greater understanding between cultures.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of  (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo and  (b) Belgium on the arrest of the losing presidential candidate, Jean-Pierre Bemba, in Belgium to face charges laid by the International Criminal Court.

Kim Howells: Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo was arrested in Belgium on 24 May on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He is currently in Belgian custody. A decision on transferring Bemba to the ICC is for the Belgian authorities to make, in line with Belgian law and the Rome Statute of the ICC. We are in contact with Belgian officials both in Brussels and in Kinshasa and they are keeping us informed of developments. We have had no contact with the Democratic Republic of Congo authorities on this issue.

Departmental ICT

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the contract his Department has signed for its new content management system and website requires the Department to use a single contractor for the maintenance of these systems.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's contract for the new content management system and websites was let to a prime contractor to deliver the platform as a whole. This includes maintenance and support of the associated systems for four years until 2012.

Departmental ICT

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the terms of his Department's contract with the provider of his Department's new content management system and website permits sharing the intellectual property with other Government departments.

Jim Murphy: The intellectual property in items created by the supplier specifically under the contract or as a result of the supplier's performance under the contract belongs to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and so can be shared with other Government Departments. However, the supplier's pre-existing intellectual property which is used in performance of the contract is only licensed to the FCO and cannot be used by other Government Departments unless it is embedded in software written specifically by the supplier for the FCO where the FCO has the right to sub-licence such software to other Government Departments. The actual web content management system is third party software provided by the supplier and the licence of such third party software does not extend to other Government Departments. In addition, there are various other third party software products used for the Department's new website where the licences do not extend to other Government Departments.

Departmental ICT

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has undertaken bench-marking activity against private sector bodies to establish whether the time taken to develop its new content management system and website is reasonable.

Jim Murphy: Before formally commencing procurement, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office engaged in market testing to inform its requirement in a number of areas, including the feasibility of the timeline. Use of the negotiated Official Journal of the EU procurement route enabled further development and refinement of the timeline with the bidders. The project was scheduled to be complete by September 2008 and is still on track to do so.

Departmental ICT

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department considered an open source solution during the procurement process for its new content management system and website.

Jim Murphy: The procurement strategy adopted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office focused on business requirements and outcomes rather than use of a particular content management system. Suppliers were free to propose open source solutions within their technical designs.

Departmental ICT

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department's new content management system and website cost; and whether this project was delivered within the original budget.

Jim Murphy: The costs of the project were detailed in a response on 15 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1772-3W). The project is currently on budget and on track to be completed in September 2008.

Departmental ICT

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department's new content management system and website was originally scheduled to be operational; what the reasons are for the time taken; and whether the private sector contractor was required to make penalty payments for the time taken.

Jim Murphy: The project to deliver a new Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Web Platform is scheduled to be complete in 2008. We remain on target to deliver by this date. The main FCO (www.fco.gov.uk) and UKvisas (www.ukvisas.gov.uk) websites were launched in March 2008. We are currently migrating our embassy and high commission websites to the new platform.

Departmental ICT

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials were involved in the development of his Department's new content management system and website.

Jim Murphy: The e-Media team at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) worked with private contractors and consultants to develop the new FCO Web Platform. The e-media team is made up of 16 home civil servants. During the development process, the e-media team were not fully deployed on the development of the new platform but carried out other tasks including management and maintenance of the old web platform and other online communications projects.

Iraq: Iran

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political implications of the recent missile attack by Iran upon Ashraf City in Iraq.

Kim Howells: This issue is a matter for the Iraqi government.

Pakistan: Blasphemy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make representations to the government of Pakistan to encourage it to repeal that country's blasphemy laws;
	(2)  whether he has made recent representations to the government of Pakistan on behalf of the Christian community in Pakistan, with particular reference to alleged apostasy.

Kim Howells: The UK supports freedom of religion and condemns instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith or belief. With our EU partners, we have raised our concerns over the situation of religious minorities in Pakistan and the frequent abuse of the blasphemy legislation. In addition, officials in London and Islamabad have met with representatives of minority organisations to monitor the treatment of minorities. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Government of Pakistan about the treatment of minorities and to encourage reform or repeal of discriminatory legislation through the National Assembly.
	The UN Human Rights Council undertook a Universal Periodic Review on the human rights records of a number of countries, including Pakistan, in May. The UK participated in this dialogue and obtained a commitment from the Pakistani delegation that checks would be introduced to regulate investigations into allegations of blasphemy and apostasy.

Peacekeeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of alleged child abuse by peacekeepers and aid workers in  (a) the Ivory Coast,  (b) southern Sudan and  (c) Haiti.

Kim Howells: holding answer 6 June 2008
	The UK takes all allegations of misconduct by peacekeepers and aid workers extremely seriously.
	We receive regular reports on a range of human rights issues in all three countries, through, inter alia, our embassies, the UN, non-governmental organisations and the media. Sexual abuse of children was raised in reports of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict in the Ivory Coast (August 2007) and Sudan (September 2008). Allegations of child abuse by peacekeepers and aid workers in the Ivory Coast, southern Sudan and Haiti were also detailed in a report published by Save the Children in May 2008. The report throws a spotlight on this serious issue and we are supportive of any efforts to protect some of the world's most vulnerable children.
	The overwhelming majority of UN peacekeepers uphold the very highest of standards. But there have been cases where peacekeepers and aid officials have abused the trust placed in them by the very populations they are there to protect.
	We are committed to working with the UN to tackle this problem. We support the UN's 'zero tolerance' policy towards incidents of abuse and are confident that allegations of wrongdoing are investigated comprehensively by the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations. But more must be done to eradicate this problem, so we are also helping to support the UN's efforts to prevent exploitation and abuse by improving the conduct and discipline of its personnel. The peace support operations training that we provide for troops of other countries also covers matters of conduct, including the importance of protecting civilians (including women and children) in accordance with international law.
	We are also committed to reducing the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse by its humanitarian partners' personnel. The Department for International Development's (DFID) guidelines for humanitarian funding for non-governmental organisations (2007) clearly state that:
	"DFID will not provide funding to organisations which do not subscribe to a code of conduct on sexual exploitation and abuse".
	DFID has committed £1.3 million to support a project by Save the Children to train and deploy a cadre of highly skilled child protection personnel in the humanitarian sector. As a result of this project, over 360,000 vulnerable children will benefit, in addition to further multiplier effects, as the experience of trained staff impacts in the wider humanitarian system. From 2008, DFID's Civil Society Challenge Fund has included child protection criteria for applicants who applied for funding that involves working with children. This includes a requirement to meet a set of non-negotiable criteria and reporting requirements around child protection policy and its implementation.
	The Government will continue to strive toward eradicating the tragedy of sexual abuse and exploitation of children in conflict situations by all parties.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of levels of violence in Sri Lanka, with particular reference to the recent incident at Dehiwala station.

Kim Howells: We are concerned about the recent marked increase in violence throughout Sri Lanka. The 26 May attack on the Colombo-Panadura train at Dehiwala station and the explosion on 4 June between Wellawatta and Dehiwala railway stations are examples of this. On 6 February, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary condemned attacks upon civilians and those responsible. He called for an end to the targeting of civilians and emphasised that only a just political process involving all communities could produce a sustainable solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Treaty of Lisbon

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1250W, on the Treaty of Lisbon, whether the contacts described have included discussions on the referendum in the Republic of Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 5 June 2008
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have regular contact with our Irish counterparts. Discussions have included the ratification of the Lisbon treaty, as well as other European and bilateral issues.

Uzbekistan: Politics and Government

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Uzbekistan on human rights and the promotion of democracy.

Jim Murphy: The UK remains seriously concerned at the overall level of human rights in Uzbekistan. The UK regularly raises concerns on human rights issues with the Uzbek authorities, both bilaterally and with EU partners. Most recently, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials raised concerns with the Uzbek government during a visit to Tashkent in May 2008. We also raise human rights and democracy issues frequently during discussions with the Uzbek embassy in London.
	The EU also regularly raises its concerns on human rights issues with the Uzbek government. The EU has welcomed the recent progress achieved in Uzbekistan in the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law, notably the abolition of the death penalty, the introduction of habeas corpus and the ratification of the International Labour Organisation Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The EU also welcomed the release by the Uzbek authorities of several prominent human rights defenders in February 2008, including Saidjahon Zainabitinov. On 2 June, the Uzbek authorities also released Mutabar Tadjibaeva—a development we warmly welcome.
	The EU is prepared to support further Uzbek reforms in these areas while at the same time making it clear where we would like to see further progress. We welcome the Uzbek commitment to continuing the comprehensive and results-oriented human rights dialogue with the EU and look forward to concrete outcomes from this dialogue on 5 June.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Children: Databases

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes will be made to his Department's Manual of Protective Security in light of the security recommendations made by Deloitte as part of their review of the ContactPoint database published on 21 February.

Tom Watson: The Manual of Protective Security (MPS) is updated regularly. The implications of the Deloitte Review for the MPS are being considered at present.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has accepted in full the recommendations of the Deloitte review. I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families (Kevin Brennan) on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 55WS.

Income

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the next edition of The Effects of Taxes and Benefits on Household Income will be published.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking when the next edition of 'The Effects of Taxes and Benefits on Household Income' will be published. (208351)
	'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income, 2006/07' will be published in June 2008. The exact release date will be made public on the UK Statistics Authority website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ReleaseCalendar/currentreleases.asp
	The analysis will be available on the Office for National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Batteries: Recycling

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government has taken to increase recycling of batteries.

Joan Ruddock: We have recently consulted on the transposition of the EU Batteries Directive. When transposed, the directive will reduce the quantity of hazardous and non hazardous waste batteries going to landfill and increase the recovery of the materials they contain. Collection targets set by the directive for portable batteries are 25 per cent. by 2012, rising to 45 per cent. by 2016. The prohibition on incinerating or landfilling industrial and automotive batteries implies a 100 per cent. collection and recycling target for these batteries. The consultation closed on 13 March.
	We are in the process of analysing the responses to the consultation. We will publish a summary shortly, followed by a second consultation later this year.
	Research and trials to provide evidence for the consultation and to investigate the best ways of implementing the Batteries Directive have been carried out on portable batteries. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has been working in partnership with a range of local authorities and not-for-profit organisations that already run recycling collection services to pilot portable waste battery collection trials in the UK. Trials include establishing 'drop off' points at supermarkets, as well as other methods of collection such as at the kerbside.
	Supported by funding from DEFRA and the devolved administrations, the trials form part of a wider effort to develop cost-effective ways for the UK to meet the targets of the Batteries Directive. The results of the various trials will be published shortly, and these will be used to help the Government and batteries producers identify the best methods of collecting batteries to meet the directive's targets.
	It is important to stress that under the Batteries Directive, which is a Producer Responsibility Directive, responsibility for the collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries will lie with the producers of batteries. In order to fulfil their obligations, they may need to engage with local authorities to improve their collection network. Therefore, when the directive is enforced, the Compliance Scheme or schemes representing producers of batteries may need to make contractual agreements with local authorities if they wish to increase the level of batteries being recycled.

Environment Agency: Finance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated shortfall in the Environment Agency's budget for operating and maintaining its navigations is for 2008-09.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Environment Agency estimates the budget shortfall for operating and maintaining its navigations to be £11.3 million for 2008-09.
	The Environment Agency is implementing a new funding strategy to address the navigation funding shortfall. This focuses on increasing navigation income, driving down costs and maximising the benefits delivered by Environment Agency waterways. Income will be increased through commercial ventures, greater external funding, securing funding from all beneficiaries and promoting greater use and public benefit from Environment Agency waterways. The strategy plans to close the funding gap by 2012 and achieve sustainability by 2020.

Environment Agency: Finance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cost is of completing the backlog of capital work on the Environment Agency's waterways structures.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Environment Agency estimates the cost of completing the backlog of capital work to its waterway structures to be £30 million as at May 2008. This was estimated at £60 million in 2004 and consists of works outstanding for more than five years.
	The Government and the Environment Agency Board have provided support in addressing the backlog of capital work, providing an additional £30 million to March 2008. This leaves £30 million of the 2004 backlog remaining. A further £10 million has been provided this year with a commitment to address the remainder by April 2011.

Environment Protection

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to contribute towards the take-up of sustainable development practices and technologies and the establishment of a low-carbon and resource efficient economy.

Joan Ruddock: On 1 May 2008 the Government published its response to the Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance (CEMEP): "Building a low carbon economy: Unlocking Innovation and Skills". The final report from CEMEP, published in November 2007, provided an analysis of the scale of opportunities for the UK in moving to a low carbon, resource efficient and more sustainable economy. The Global Environmental Industries Sector, estimated to be worth £274 billion in 2005, is expected to grow to £342 billion by 2010 and just under £400 billion by 2015. But CEMEP also made it clear these opportunities will only be available to those countries and businesses with the foresight to seize them, and made a number of recommendations to business and Governments to do this.
	The Government fully recognises the scale of these new opportunities and is working with partners to realise them, as outlined in "Building a low carbon economy." The Government have set out four key challenges: the need for long-term, clear, consistent and credible policies to encourage the confidence for businesses to invest and enable the timely development of innovative products and services to speed the transition to a low-carbon economy; the need to create the conditions that allow innovation to flourish, by removing barriers and other disincentives and through support for research, development and demonstration; that we have to draw on the talent and creativity of the British people and ensure that the economy has the skills it needs to be successful; and the need for partnership working between all levels of Government and business.
	The CEMEP reports are available on the DEFRA website.

Environment Protection: Industry

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's targets on  (a) energy efficiency,  (b) renewable energy,  (c) recycling and  (d) resource efficiency on the types of skills required by environmental industries.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA officials are working proactively with employers, Sector Skills Councils, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, and expert bodies representing the environmental industries, as well as other Government Departments (DIUS and BERR) to develop our evidence and understanding for the skills implications of the transition to a low carbon, resource efficient and more sustainable economy and to ensure that these are at the heart of our skills system.

Farms: Waste Disposal

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons all farm waste plastics are required to be taken to Dumfries for disposal; and what estimate he has made of the level of carbon dioxide emissions arising from that requirement.

Joan Ruddock: There is no such requirement and therefore no estimate of the level of carbon dioxide emissions has been made.

Fisheries: Subsidies

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what schemes for  (a) financial support and  (b) fuel subsidy to national fishing industries were approved by the European Commission in each month since November 2007; and what representations the Government made in respect of each scheme.

Jonathan R Shaw: Schemes for financial support under the European Fisheries Fund are set out in each member state's operational programme. Details of the operational programmes approved by the European Commission since November 2007 are available on the European Commission's website.
	Details of those schemes for financial support that require clearance under EU state aid rules are also available on the European Commission's website.
	I understand that the European Commission has not formally approved any schemes for fuel subsidy.

Fishing Catches

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount of discards made by the English fishing industry in the last 12 months; and what assessment he has made of the relationship between the size of cod stocks fished by English vessels and the volume of discards.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information on the full extent of discarding undertaken by English vessels in the last year is not available. However, the information provided by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) North Sea Working Group this year, estimates that of the total landings of 1,626 tonnes of cod observed, a further 309 tonnes or 16 per cent. were discarded in 2007.

Gangmasters

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many gangmasters were  (a) licensed and  (b) found employing victims of trafficking in each of the last three years; and how much revenue has been generated from issuing licences.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) began licensing in April 2006. As of 5 June 2008, there are 1,193 gangmasters currently licensed by the GLA.
	Of licences issued, the GLA has revoked 59 licences, including seven with immediate effect. In six out of the seven licences revoked with immediate effect, the GLA found evidence of exploitation equivalent to the International Labour Organization's indicators of forced labour. Out of these six cases, one licence revocation was in the financial year 2006-07 with the remaining five in 2007-08.
	The income generated by the GLA through licence fees and charges for application inspections since it began operating is:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2006-07 1,367,300 
			 2007-08 1,374,600

Pollution Control

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1338W, on pollution control, how many IPPC permits were issued by  (a) the Environment Agency and  (b) local authorities in 2007-08; how many air pollution control permits were issued by local authorities in 2007-08; and what the total revenue in permit fees was.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Environment Agency issued 1251 PPC permits, most of which were IPPC, in 2007-08. The associated permit fees amounted to approximately £9.3 million.
	Information on numbers of permits issued by local authorities and fees paid in 2007-08 will not be available until December, when the results of the annual Local Pollution Control Statistical Survey are available.

Recycling

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government plans to take to increase recycling in public areas.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA launched 'Recycle on the Go' on 2 June which aims to put accessible recycling bins in public places. A good practice guide and a voluntary code of practice will help those responsible for public places to make recycling easy and accessible and includes new guidance on making good use of consistent signage. The materials are available on the DEFRA website, and copies of the publications have been placed in the Library of the House.

Rights of Way

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many unrecorded historic rights of way were discovered by his Department's Discovering Lost Ways project; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Discovering Lost Ways project concentrated initially on parts of Cheshire, Shropshire and Nottinghamshire. Following the systematic examination of key historic documents, Natural England has compiled evidence relating to 219 possible unrecorded rights of way.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Arms Length Management Organisations: Finance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which arm's-length management organisations (ALMOs)  (a) have and  (b) do not have powers to bid for Housing Corporation funding; and what processes need to be followed to allow ALMOs such powers.

Iain Wright: Under section 18 and 27a of the Housing Act 1996 the Housing Corporation has the power to provide social housing grants to registered social landlords (RSLs) and other bodies to deliver affordable housing. This includes arms length management organisations (ALMOs).
	In order to bid for grant RSLs and other bodies, including ALMOs, must pre-qualify, which includes demonstrating capacity to deliver. The Housing Corporation has encouraged ALMOs categorised as two and three stars by the Audit Commission to seek pre-qualification this year as this assessment indicates that they are more likely to meet the pre-qualification criteria.

Council Tax: Tax Yields

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will rank each English local authority by the proportion of all expenditure raised by council tax receipts in 2007-08, showing the amount of council tax revenue in each case.

John Healey: I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the requested ranked information on the percentage of budgeted revenue expenditure to be funded by council tax in 2007-08.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what proportion of its staff her Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Within the Department we are not aware that there are any staff who have undertaken vocational training (NVQs) in the last three years as these records are not held centrally.

Eco-Towns: Public Participation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many representations were received  (a) for and  (b) against each of the proposed eco-towns prior to the decision on which 15 sites would be shortlisted.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 1 May 2008,  Official Report, column 664W. As that answer sets out, we are currently consulting on preliminary views on eco-town benefits and the short listed locations. The consultation closes on 30 June and we will in due course provide a further statement on the responses received, together with an indication of how the process influenced the policy. Our aim will be to publish this within three months of the consultation closing on 30 June.

Floods: Hull

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much of the funding to aid reconstruction following the floods in  (a) Hull and  (b) Gloucestershire in 2007 has been (i) allocated and (ii) transferred to each relevant local authority;
	(2)  how many applications for assistance from the funds announced by the Government to aid reconstruction following the floods in  (a) Hull and  (b) Gloucestershire in 2007 have been approved and paid; and how much has been paid in total;
	(3)  which transport-related projects have received funding from her Department to aid reconstruction following the floods in  (a) Hull and  (b) Gloucestershire in 2007;
	(4)  how much funding her Department provided to aid transport-related reconstruction following the floods in  (a) Hull and  (b) Gloucestershire in 2007; and how much of that funding has been allocated and transferred to each relevant local authority.

John Healey: In response to the 2007 summer floods CLG has allocated and transferred flood recovery grant (FRG) of £2,762,000 to Hull and £2,763,000 to local authorities in Gloucestershire. Flood recovery grant is unringfenced so local authorities have had the flexibility to decide how to best to use the grant based on their own local circumstances. Allocations of FRG were made on the basis of the best available data held by local authorities at the time on the number of households affected by flooding.
	Following the summer 2007 floods, DSCF made available £3,214,424 to Hull, and £1,007,900 to Gloucestershire. These sums, which could be used for a range of purposes relating to schools and children's services, have already been transferred to the local authorities. DCSF's payments to local authorities were calculated according to a formula based on the number of schools severely, significantly or slightly damaged by the floods, the number of flooded homes, and the number of pupils in flooded schools—the latter two indicators to act as a proxy for the impact on other services for children, young people and families.
	DCSF is discussing with Hull an application for exceptional capital funding for costs arising from the floods; the amount of this application is currently under discussion, and nothing has yet been paid. There has been no claim from Gloucestershire for such funding.
	An initial claim submitted by Gloucestershire county council under the Department for Transport's emergency capital highways maintenance scheme has been processed and the £10.048 million allocated has been transferred to the authority. The funding received by the authority covers mainly repairs to landslips, roads, footways, structures, drainage and traffic signals.
	Gloucestershire has submitted evidence to support a further claim which the Department for Transport is considering. They expect the authority to submit additional evidence to support further repair works in due course.
	Kingston Upon Hull city council has not submitted a claim under the Department for Transport's emergency capital highways maintenance scheme.
	In addition Hull has received Bellwin payments amounting to £2,097,817 and Gloucestershire (this includes the county council, police authority and relevant district councils) has received £4,447,964 in Bellwin payments. Bellwin is a scheme of emergency financial assistance to help local authorities meet uninsurable costs they incur when dealing with the aftermath of an emergency in their area, rather than to fund recovery.

Housing: Construction

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes were built in Suffolk in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The following numbers of new homes were built in Suffolk over the period 2002-03 to 2006-07:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002-03 2,769 
			 2003-04 2,691 
			 2004-05 2,335 
			 2005-06 3,368 
			 2006-07 4,203 
		
	
	These are the most recent, published figures provided by local authorities, taken from the East of England Regional Assembly's Annual Monitoring Report.

Housing: Standards

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which areas of London have been included in the New Commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal; and which of these are on course to meet the 20 year target to end postcode poverty.

John Healey: The Government's National Strategy Action Plan: 'A New Commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal' set out a radical vision that within 10 to 20 years no one should be seriously disadvantaged by where they live.
	In terms of progress, the 'Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration Review' showed that the strategy has had a significant effect in the most deprived areas and that, overall, the gap in performance has narrowed between deprived local authority areas and the rest. However concentrations of deprivation remain and, despite rapid improvement in some of the most deprived areas, worklessness in particular remains persistent in some local communities.
	As part of a concerted drive to tackle this problem the Government have established a new Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF). This will focus on the most deprived areas and support local authorities and communities in their efforts to tackle worklessness and other elements of deprivation.
	In London the boroughs receiving WNF are:
	Barking and Dagenham;
	Brent;
	Greenwich;
	Hackney;
	Haringey;
	Islington;
	Lambeth;
	Newham;
	Southwark;
	Tower Hamlets;
	Waltham Forest,
	All of these boroughs are also including worklessness-focused indicators in their local area agreements.

Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government: Manpower

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are employed in the Cultural Services Improvement Unit of the Improvement and Development Agency.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 6 June 2008
	At present two members of staff are employed in Cultural Services Improvement Unit. They are in the process of integrating the unit into the core business of the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and expect to have completed this transformation by October 2008.

Local Area Agreements: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities in London have taken up local area agreements.

John Healey: The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 places a duty on all responsible local authorities in England to prepare and submit an LAA from 2008-09 onwards. This includes all 33 local authorities in London. New LAAs will be approved in June 2008.

Local Government Finance: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average grant per capita to  (a) district councils and  (b) county councils in England was in each of the last five years; and what the per capita grant to (i) Suffolk County Council and (ii) district councils in Suffolk was in each such year.

John Healey: The average central Government funding per capita to shire counties in England, Suffolk county council, shire districts in England and districts in Suffolk for the last five years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ per head 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Shire Counties 616 691 730 772 800 
			  O f which:  
			 Suffolk County Council 605 682 739 775 796 
			   
			 Shire Districts 71 78 75 79 91 
			  O f which:  
			 Babergh 54 63 62 63 73 
			 Forest Heath 90 90 89 95 94 
			 Ipswich 84 105 90 91 110 
			 Mid Suffolk 56 63 59 61 73 
			 St. Edmundsbury 62 92 69 70 74 
			 Suffolk Coastal 66 70 65 65 75 
			 Waveney 81 92 81 93 107 
			  Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns 
		
	
	Central Government funding is defined here as the sum of Formula grant (Revenue Support Grant and redistributed non-domestic rates) and Specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF), i.e. revenue grants paid for council's core services.
	Figures exclude grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities' core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authorities' housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid owing to changing local authority responsibilities.
	Population figures used in the calculation are the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Mid-Year Population estimates for each relevant year.

Mayors: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions her Department has had on the merits of establishing a Mayor for Greater Manchester.

Parmjit Dhanda: Officials regularly have discussions with local authorities, their stakeholders, and others, which from time to time may touch on issues of local governance, including the governance of city regions.

Members: Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Yeovil, of 29 April 2008, on strip washing for elderly people.

Parmjit Dhanda: My right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Baroness Andrews) has now replied to the hon. Member's letter.

Planning Permission: Environmental Impact Assessment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications for local developments required ecological surveys in each of the last three years.

Iain Wright: The Department does not hold information on how many ecological surveys local planning authorities (LPAs) require each year.
	This type of information may, however, be required by local planning authorities when they require a developer to carry out an environmental impact assessment (EIA). The average number of EIAs required by planning legislation in England over the last three years was about 350-400 cases per year.

Public Libraries: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1411W, on public libraries: valuation, how many public libraries in  (a) England and  (b) Wales were on the Valuation Office Agency's 1995 Ratings List in 1997, or the closest period to that year for which figures were available.

John Healey: As at July 1998 the number of libraries in the rating lists were:
	 (a) England: 3,066;
	 (b) Wales: 264.
	These details, extracted from the VGA's database at the stated date, accord with the use classification for non-domestic rating purposes. Descriptions used in rating lists reflect the predominant use of the property in accordance with rating legislation and legal precedent.
	They do not distinguish between public and private sector use of a property; do not necessarily include non-fixed assets (such as mobile facilities) and do not pick up secondary uses of property (e.g. public libraries housed within civic centres).
	The figures should therefore not be regarded as an authoritative statistical source for other purposes.

Regional Planning and Development: Government Departments

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether it is the policy of the Government that government departments should  (a) maintain and  (b) increase the number of staff posts located in the four growth zones identified by her Department in its sustainable communities plan.

Iain Wright: Staffing issues and the choice of location are matters for individual departments, taking into account their own business needs and an informed assessment of locations. In February 2006 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Office for Government Commerce and Treasury published guidance setting out how Government Departments should take account of regional economic balance considerations when choosing locations for work being transferred out of London and the South East. The guidance explains the details of how departments should reflect Government policy in the decisions they make about new locations for their business.

Regional Planning and Development: Milton Keynes

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect on employment in her Department's Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional growth area of plans by HM Revenue and Customs to reduce its operations in Aylesbury.

Iain Wright: None. HM Revenue and Customs is reviewing its operations across the UK to consolidate its estate and introduce business efficiencies following the creation of the department from the former Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise. The review is still ongoing and HM Revenue and Customs is currently consulting on its proposals, which would involve relocating most of the staff in its Aylesbury office to other HMRC offices within reasonable daily travelling time.

HEALTH

Airports: Health Hazards

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the public health impact of  (a) Heathrow airport and  (b) other airports in the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what studies his Department has commissioned into the incidence of cancer in areas around  (a) Heathrow airport and  (b) other airports compared to other areas; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Paragraph 12.2 of the Department for Transport White Paper, The Future of Air Transport, 2003, Cm 6046, states that the airport operators are expected to undertake appropriate health impact assessments. Copies of this publication are available in the Library.
	The Small Area Health Statistics Unit at Imperial College London, which is part-funded by the Department, is carrying out a study to investigate health effects including cancer incidence around Heathrow airport. The Department has not commissioned studies into the incidence of cancer in areas around other airports compared to other areas.

Asthma: Nurses

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether his Department plans to increase the number of trained asthma nurses in deprived areas;
	(2)  how many people with asthma were offered a consultation with a trained asthma nurse during the last year for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Education and training for all nurses is the responsibility of their employers in light of local priorities and local assessment of training needs.
	Information about consultations with asthma nurses is not collected centrally.

Dementia: Social Services

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the recent findings of the Commission for Social Care Inspection's survey of the services provided to residents with dementia in 100 care homes in England; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The Department notes the publication of the Commission for Social Care Inspection's (CSCI) report.
	Anyone in a care home, regardless of whether or not they have dementia, should expect a high standard of care and, as a society, we should not tolerate anything less. Where necessary, poorly performing care homes are kept under scrutiny by CSCI.

Dental Services: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were registered with an NHS dentist in Milton Keynes in each quarter of the last five years; and what percentage of the Milton Keynes population this represented in each period.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested.
	The number of patients registered with a national health service dentist at 31 March, 1997 to 2006, is available in Annex A of "NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006". Information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT). Annex C contains information by constituency.
	Annex B contains information on the proportion of the population registered with an NHS dentist in the same time period and is presented by SHA and by PCT. This information is not available by constituency.
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. The report, published on 23 August 2006, is available in the Library and at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Under the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') over a 24-month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	The number of patients seen by quarter for 2006-07 is available in Table Fl of Annex 3 of the report "NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 4: 31 March 2007". Information is provided by SHA and by PCT. Table F2 contains patients seen as a percentage of the population by quarter for 2006-07. This report, published on 19 June 2007, is available in the Library and at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalq4
	The number of patients seen in the first three quarters of 2007-08 is available in Table Cl of Annex 3 of the report "NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 3: 31 December 2007". Information is provided by SHA and by PCT. Table C2 contains patients seen as a percentage of the population, for the first three quarters of 2007-08. This report, published on 5 June 2008, has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0708q3
	Under the new dental contract, information is not available by constituency.
	All of these reports have been published by the Information Centre for health and social care.

Departmental Vetting

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether  (a) UK citizens born in the UK,  (b) UK citizens born abroad and  (c) foreign nationals recruited to his Department and its agencies are subject to (i) UK and (ii) overseas criminal record checks; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: For United Kingdom citizens born in the UK, the Department and its agencies (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency) use the Her Majesty's Government Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for all new entrants. This includes verification of unspent criminal record declarations. We apply the criminal check element of the BPSS through self-declaration, whereby we ask individuals to provide all unspent criminal record information on a Criminal Record Declaration form. Any concerns are followed up.
	For UK citizens born abroad, in addition to UK citizens born in the UK we require original documentation to establish proof of residence for time spent abroad. We also ask for an account of any significant periods of time living abroad, i.e. six months or more in the past three years.
	For foreign nationals, in addition to UK citizens born abroad we carry out additional checks on eligibility for employment under the Civil Service Commissioners rules on appointment. This generally covers individuals from European Economic Area countries and commonwealth countries. We also check work visas to ensure that the individuals can work in the UK and that the visa covers them for the period of their appointment with the Department.

Epilepsy

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government plan to establish a national monitoring centre to conduct research into sudden unexplained death in epilepsy.

Ann Keen: The Government have no plans to establish a national monitoring centre to conduct research into sudden unexplained death in epilepsy; however, I have agreed to meet with Epilepsy Bereaved to discuss these issues.

Epilepsy

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring his Department undertakes of the incidence and causes of sudden unexplained deaths in epilepsy.

Ann Keen: The Department does not monitor the incidence or causes of sudden unexplained deaths among patients with epilepsy. However, I have agreed to meet with Epilepsy Bereaved to discuss this matter further.

Eyesight: Schools

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the level of provision of eye tests in schools; whether he plans to increase the number of tests provided in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: We have made no assessment of eye tests carried out in schools.
	The Child Health Promotion Programme published in April 2008, recommends that all children aged between four and five years should be screened for visual impairment by an orthoptist-led service. Copies of this publication have been placed in the Library and are also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/DH_083645
	National health service funded sight tests carried out at high street opticians practices are available for all children under the age of 16 and for young people aged between 16 to 18 in full-time education.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The amount of food waste generated in the Department of Health are as follows:
	
		
			  April to March each year  Tonnes 
			 2006-07 14.33 
			 2007-08 13.69 
		
	
	Figures for the period prior to April 2006 are not available.

General Practitioners: Lincolnshire

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records he holds of operating surpluses of GP practices in the North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust area.

Ann Keen: The requested information is not held centrally.

Hemel Hempstead Acute Hospital

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans there are for the future of the  (a) accident and emergency unit,  (b) stroke unit,  (c) cardiac unit,  (d) intensive care unit and  (e) high dependency unit at Hemel Hempstead Acute Hospital; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to close specific wards at Hemel Hempstead Acute Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Plans for services at Hemel Hempstead hospital are the responsibility of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The provision of health services is a matter for the local national health service working in conjunction with clinicians, patients and other stakeholders. The hon. Member may therefore wish to raise any concerns with the chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

NHS: Cleaning Services

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1019W, on NHS: cleaning services, if he will provide figures on decontamination reprocessing of surgical instruments and compliance with the standards contained within the Medical Devices Directive (93/42/EEC), broken down by acute trust, indicating where services are  (a) contracted out to the private sector and  (b) provided in-house.

Ann Keen: Where decontamination services are undertaken only for internal use by the same national health service trust or other NHS body, policy requires compliance with the 'essential requirements' of the medical devices directive (93/42 EC) and associated regulations.
	Where NHS units provide services to other NHS bodies, or to independent sector providers, they are subject to the full requirements of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (SI 618) and 2003 Amendments (SI 1697). In these instances, the unit will be subject to a third party audit programme by a recognised notified body. Notified bodies are designated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency who also regularly audit their performance. The MHRA does not collate or receive information completed by a notified body on its routine audit of such reprocessors. Should a reprocessor no longer comply with the appropriate requirements, the notified body may revoke their approval and inform the MHRA accordingly. This specific information on individual registrations is not available for public disclosure under article 20 of the medical devices directive (93/42 EC).
	The Healthcare Commission has regulatory responsibility for health care standards and as part of an annual health check, requires all NHS trusts to assess their performance against a set of core standards which include references to the medical devices directive (MDD) (93/42 EEC), and to publicly declare this information. The Healthcare Commission supplements this self-assessment with feedback from a variety of local stakeholders including patient and public involvement forums, local authority overview and scrutiny committees, strategic health authorities and, in the case of foundation trusts, boards of governors.
	The Declarations of Compliance for acute trusts for 2006-07 (the latest available) have been placed in the Library.
	Data on the sterile services activity are collected annually from NHS organisations on a voluntary basis for benchmarking purposes and the latest available data have been placed in the Library.
	It is the responsibility of each individual NHS trust to make suitable arrangements for decontamination services. Data on the number of trusts who contract this work out are not routinely collected centrally. However, the following trusts are taking part in the NHS National Decontamination Programme:
	Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Birmingham Dental Hospital (South Birmingham Primary Care Trust)
	Birmingham Women's Healthcare NHS Trust
	Bradford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust
	Christie NHS Hospitals Trust
	Good Hope Hospital (now part of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust)
	Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust
	North Cheshire NHS Hospitals Trust
	Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
	South Manchester Foundation Trust
	The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
	The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Trafford Hospital NHS Trust
	University Hospitals of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
	University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

NHS: Consultants

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS consultants per capita there were in  (a) the Dacorum Borough Council area and  (b) Hertfordshire in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: Information is not held in the format requested. Information is held at national health service trust level. Hertfordshire comprises East and North Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust, West Hertfordshire Hospital NHS Trust and West Hertfordshire PCT. Information is not held at borough council level.
	The following table shows numbers of NHS medical and dental consultants per 100,000 population in Hertfordshire since 1997.
	
		
			  Hospital and Community Health Services: headcount of medical and dental consultants in Hertfordshire 
			   Consultants per 100,000 population 
			 1997 37 
			 1998 38 
			 1999 39 
			 2000 40 
			 2001 43 
			 2002 45 
			 2003 46 
			 2004 49 
			 2005 52 
			 2006 52 
			 2007 55 
			  Note: The majority of consultants work for hospital trusts, which are not defined by geographical boundaries, Consequently it is not possible to calculate the number of consultants per capita by hospital trust.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census. Population calculation based on mid year population estimates (2001 Census based) Office for National Statistics.

NHS: Finance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the running costs of each strategic health authority were in 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: The running costs allocated to each strategic health authority (SHA) in 2007-08 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  SHA management costs allocated, 2007-08 (including estates advisers) 
			   SHA  £000 
			 SHAQ30 North East 9,500 
			 SHAQ31 North West 10,392 
			 SHAQ32 Yorkshire and Humberside 9,500 
			 SHAQ33 East Midlands 9,725 
			 SHAQ34 West Midlands 9,839 
			 SHAQ35 East of England 9,844 
			 SHAQ36 London 13,614 
			 SHAQ37 South East Coast 9,738 
			 SHAQ38 South Central 9,726 
			 SHAQ39 South West 9,817 
			  Total 101,695

Nurses: Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2008,  Official Report, column 275W, on nurses: schools, how many nurses are based in schools, broken down by local education authority.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.
	A table showing the number of primary care trusts (PCTs) and national health service trusts who employ qualified school nurses from 2004 to 2007 has been placed in the Library. School nurses were identified for the first time in the 2004 annual workforce census.
	School nurses are generally employed by PCTs although some school nurses will be directly employed by both state and independent schools. The NHS Workforce Census does not capture these. A number of qualified school nurses will also work coterminously across PCT boundaries but be directly employed by one single PCT.

Organs: Donors

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the names and addresses are of those schools which participated in the Give and Let Live donor education programme in 2007-08;
	(2)  to which postholders in secondary schools his Department sent material on the Give and Let Live donor education programme;
	(3)  how many hits there have been on the Give and Let Live donor education programme website since it was established.

Dawn Primarolo: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) sent a communication to all secondary schools in the United Kingdom about the initiative. The pack was requested by 1,861 schools. Details of the schools participating in the programme are held by NHSBT in accordance with the data management statement produced in conjunction with the schools. NHSBT are unable to release this information.
	The 'Give and Let Live' pack was addressed to the heads of Personal Social and Health Education in secondary schools who requested a copy.
	Since the 'Give and Let Live' website was established, there have been 463,632 hits. In addition 500 teachers packs have been downloaded from the website.

Palliative Care

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with primary care trusts on funding for hospices; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what guidance he has provided to primary care trusts on funding for hospices; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has not had any recent discussions with or made representations to primary care trusts (PCTs) regarding funding for hospices.
	It is for individual PCTs to decide the level of funding they allocate to end of life care services, including hospices, based on assessments of local needs and priorities. The level of funding a hospice receives is a matter for negotiation between the local PCT and the hospice.
	The End of Life Care Strategy for adults, due to be published in the summer, will address the needs of patients, carers and families and will consider, among other things, the role of, and funding for hospices.
	Publication of the national Strategy was deferred until the summer to allow us to take account of the important work of strategic health authorities on the Next Stage Review. End of life care is also one of the eight pathways that strategic health authorities have been examining as part of their work on the NHS Next Stage Review.

Palliative Care: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of an ageing population on social care budgets in London.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has not made any specific assessment of the effect of an aging population on social care budgets in London. The Department commissioned the Personal Social Services Research Unit to analyse the national demographic pressures in respect of older people. The results of this work were fed into the last comprehensive spending review (2007) and this led to an increase in the monies made available to local authorities. The data will also be used as part of the modelling for the future care delivery system about which the Government have recently gone out for public consultation.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of abolishing prescription charges.

Dawn Primarolo: Abolishing prescription charges in England would result in the loss of income available to the national health service as a result of revenue raised from prescription charges and prescription prepayment certificates. There may be further, unqualified costs because of behavioural changes leading to increases in the total number of prescription items consumed.
	For the period April 2006 to March 2007, the revenue raised from prescription charges collected by pharmacists, appliance contractors and from prescription prepayment certificate fees was £411.7 million. This figure excludes charges collected by dispensing doctors and from hospital out-patients, which is estimated to raise revenue of a further £25.8 million for primary care trusts and NHS trusts over the same period.

Suicide: Mentally Ill

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many suicides of mental health patients there were in each mental health trust in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The data requested are not held centrally.
	Information on suicides by people in contact with mental health services is collected by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCI).

TRANSPORT

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research she has commissioned into aircraft cabin air quality; whether this research was put out to tender; and what the cost was of commissioning such work.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Research work and costs to date are:
	(i) functionality tests to identify equipment capable of capturing fume events in real time. Research published by Cranfield university on 21 February 2008. Cost: £39,169.
	(ii) data analysis study of fume events and operational parameters (this work is in progress—final cost expected to be £25,000).
	(iii) substantive phase of real time functionality tests on around 100 cargo and passenger flights to assemble data on substances which may be in cabin air during fume events (this work is due to begin later this year—estimated cost of separate contractual aspects; procurement of equipment, project management, laboratory analysis, expected to total £155,000).
	The work was procured under the Department for Transport's single tender procedure as it was new, complex and developmental. We required a project leader to develop the protocols in discussion with Government, the Civil Aviation Authority and airlines. Cranfield university was selected by in discussion with Department of Health, Civil Aviation Authority, BALPA (the main pilots' trade union) and airlines.

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the commitment in the Gleneagles G8 Climate Change Action Plan to support climate science research on specific aviation-related atmospheric issues to inform technological and operational responses; and what responses have resulted.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport funds aviation related climate change research at Manchester Metropolitan University worth about £350,000 pa. This includes collaborative domestic and international projects on the climate science of aviation emissions and co-leading a major international workshop to assess aviation's environmental impacts.
	A further example of collaboration is the EUs funded programme ATTICA which is assessing transports impacts on climate change. This ensures that the Department's scientific advice reflects the contribution of other sectors such as the marine sector, power generation and roads.
	The Government are supporting project OMEGA, a grouping of seven universities, co-ordinating UK research and dissemination of a wide range of aviations environmental issues in partnership with stakeholders.
	The Department also supports a PhD studentship at Oxford University investigating the Microphysics and Aviation Induced Cirrus Cloud.
	Application of these investigations through advanced technology and operational changes is for the long-term.

Aviation: Scotland

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008 to the hon. Member for Bournemouth East,  Official Report, columns 1379-80W, on aviation: Scotland, what estimate she has made of the percentage of passengers departing from airports in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and flying to the United States who flew  (a) directly,  (b) via another UK airport and  (c) via another airport in Europe in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following three tables show percentage of passengers departing from airports in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and flying to the United States.
	
		
			  Passengers departing from airports in England (based on eight surveyed airports( 1) ) in 2006 
			   Number/percentage 
			 Flying directly to the United States (Percentage) 96 
			 Flying to the United States transferring through another UK airport (Percentage) 1 
			 Flying to the United States transferring through another airport based in Europe (Percentage) 2 
			 Flying to the United States transferring through another airport based in other countries (Percentage) 1 
			 Total passengers to and from USA (Million) 17.4 
			 (1) England airports surveyed in 2006: Birmingham, East Midlands, London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Manchester and Stansted. 
		
	
	
		
			  Passengers departing from airport in Wales (based on a survey at Cardiff) in 2003 
			   Number/percentage 
			 Flying directly to the United States (Percentage) 49 
			 Flying to the United States transferring through another UK airport (Percentage) 0 
			 Flying to the United States transferring through another airport based in Europe (Percentage) 51 
			 Flying to the United States transferring through another airport based in other countries (Percentage) 0 
			 Total passengers to and from USA (Thousand) 37 
		
	
	
		
			  Passengers departing from airports in Northern Ireland (based on three surveyed airports( 1) ) in 2006 
			   Number/percentage 
			 Flying directly to the United States (Percentage) 64 
			 Flying to the United States transferring through another UK airport (Percentage) 35 
			 Flying to the United States transferring through another airport based in Europe (Percentage) 2 
			 Flying to the United States transferring through another airport based in other countries (Percentage) 0 
			 Total passengers to and from USA (Thousand) 179 
			 (1) Northern Ireland airports surveyed in 2006: Belfast City, Belfast International and City of Derry  Source: Civil Aviation Authority

Bus Services: Concessions

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the policy objectives are of requiring pensioners to renew their concessionary bus passes in 2011; and what the expected cost is of this policy.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The requirement to have an expiry date on passes is intended to help prevent fraudulent use of passes by ensuring that no pass can simply be used indefinitely.
	The expiry date must be no more that five years from the date of issue, but local authorities are free to choose any expiry date within that period. This approach allows local authorities to stagger the expiry dates of passes issued in April 2008 in order to avoid having to re-issue all passes on the same date in five years' time.
	We consulted on the proposal to include an expiry date in 2007. Over 90 per cent. of respondents agreed that there should be an expiry date and over 80 per cent. agreed that five years was an appropriate time.
	Of those who did not agree, nearly half felt it should be shorter than five years. The majority of responses to the consultation were received from local authorities, who are responsible for issuing, and paying for, passes.
	We estimate that the cost of producing a pass is around £2 per pass though it is not possible to give a definite figure as there are a number of different suppliers who charge varying prices. Just over six million people have received passes to date. It should be recognised that the cost of requiring passes to be renewed regularly will result in saving in the reduction of fraud.

Cycling: Children

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in her Department's review of the wearing of cycle helmets by children; and when the review will be published.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department is commissioning a new research project looking at a range of road safety and cycling issues. This will examine the following topics:
	road user safety and cycling data;
	cycling infrastructure;
	attitudes and behaviours; and
	bicycle helmets.
	The research project as a whole is likely to be three years in duration, but we are aiming to complete the review of cycle helmet effectiveness within two years, so by late 2009.
	The Department published the 2006 cycle helmet wearing survey shortly in February. The project report and the research summary 'findings' can be found online at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/cvclehelmets.pdf
	and
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/report84findings.pdf

Departmental Manpower

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) UK citizens born in the UK,  (b) UK citizens born abroad and  (c) foreign nationals were employed as staff by her Department and its agencies in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport have recorded the following split between UK citizens and foreign nationals:
	
		
			   UK citizens  Foreign nationals  Not stated  Total 
			 2007-08 14,844 210 994 16,048 
			 2006-07 14,897 207 823 15,927 
			 2005-06 15,235 226 1,024 16,485 
			 2004-05(1) 11,506 110 1,215 12,831 
			 2003-04(1) 11,086 119 1,248 12,453 
			 (1) The DSA can provide figures only for the last three financial years. 
		
	
	Neither the Central Department or its agencies could distinguish between UK citizens born in the UK  (a) and those UK citizens born abroad  (b).
	These figures exclude the Highways Agency who do not record these data electronically. Obtaining this information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 8 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1062-6W, on departmental public participation, how much each  (a) survey and  (b) piece of qualitative research cost; and how many participants there were in each. [Official Report, 22 July 2008, Vol. 479, c. 5MC.]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The additional information requested about services by polling companies to the Department in 2007-08 is included in the tables.
	As before these included ongoing surveys (table A), ad-hoc surveys (table B) and qualitative research (table C). Additional information has become available since the response to PQ 2579 and the tables have been amended to reflect this.
	
		
			  Table A: Ongoing surveys 
			  Division/agency  Survey/opinion poll  (i) Firm  Cost  (£)  Number of p articipants 
			 DfT British social attitudes survey NatCen 80,000 3,600 
			 DfT Bus passenger satisfaction survey GfKNOP 155,000 (1)12,000 
			 Off Public attitudes towards road pricing ONS 81,700 2,290 
			 DfT Public attitudes towards climate change ONS (2)51,284 2,252 
			 DfT THINK! Tracking Research BMRB 323,120 (3)1,000 to 2,000 
			 DfT Climate Change Pre and Post advertising tracking BMRB 171,197 (4)1,226 
			 (4)1,225 
			 (4)1,234 
			  
			 DfT Act on C02 campaign awareness tracking BMRB 46,900 1,199 
			 DfT Directgov motoring awareness and usage omnibus BMRB 48,000 2,000 
			 DfT Operators Survey 2007 Ipsos-MORI 68,000 700 
			 DfT Customer Satisfaction Survey—GCDA Ipsos MORI 22,000 (5)140 
			 DfT Citizen's Panel GFK NOP 22,975 606 
			 HA National road users satisfaction surveys Faber Maunsell 530,000 1,863 
			 HA Area road users satisfaction surveys Faber Maunsell 540,000 11,088 
			 HA Satisfaction with traffic officer service Faber Maunsell 20,000 1,200 
			 HA Measuring improvements in network and information services Faber Maunsell 60,000 2,139 
			 HA VMS Accuracy Faber Maunsell 30,000 1281 
			 DSA Candidate Satisfaction Survey Ipsos-MORI 79,950 1,505 
			 DSA Business Customer Satisfaction Survey Ipsos-MORI 110,800 2,960 
			 DSA PDI Satisfaction Survey Ipsos-MORI 68,750 1,042 
			 MCA Coastguard Customer Satisfaction Survey (ongoing but not run in 2007-08) Amey PMG 3,819 2,000 
			 MCA Registry of Shipping and Seamen Amey PMG 5,981 (6)619 
			 VGA Type Approval Customer Satisfaction Metra Martech 1,500 113 
			 DVLA DVLA Call Centre Mystery Shopper Research Vocall 16,000 2,000 
			 DVLA Private Motorist Survey Beaufort Research 14,720 1,000 
			 DfT Public Attitudes towards Transport Security Questionnaire NatCen 0 1,530 
			 VOSA Drivers and fitters annual Customer satisfactions survey Ipsos-MORI 82,000 1,620 
			 1 3,000 per wave. 2 £102,484 for both sweeps. 3 Per survey. 4 Per wave. 5 Minimum. 6 Individual seafarers. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Ad-hoc surveys 2007-08 
			  Division/agency  Survey/opinion poll  (i) Firm  Cost  (£)  Number of p articipants 
			 DfT Public attitude towards car sharing NatCen 38,250 1,530 
			 DfT Public attitude towards buses and concessionary fares ONS 35,384 729 
			 DfT Public attitudes towards Crime on public Transport NatCen 110,700 c.3,100 
			 DfT Pre drink drive, Post speed, post mobiles BMRB 38,695 2,000 
			 DfT Post tracking Teen MTV Campaign SMRC Childwise 27,613 1,000 pre 
			 1,000 post 
			  
			 DfT Pre and post tracking Parents' Campaign SMRC Childwise 42,770 1,000 pre 
			 1,000 post 
			  
			 DfT THINK! Parents Campaign Virtual surveys 13,395 820 
			 DfT THINK! Seatbelts TRL (1)179,581 5,063 
			 DfT Post speed BMRB 26,500 2000 
			 DfT Christmas Drink Drive online Leo Burnett 3,521 484 
			 DfT PR Bus survey Tickbox 7,937 1,094 
			 DfT BSB 07 Season Evaluation and Functional Biker research TNS 64,566 900 
			 DfT Customers Expectations of Service Standards ORC 44,000 733 
			 DfT Consumer customers' channel choice TNS 48,000 1000 
			 DfT Commercial customers' channel choice Simpson Carpenter 55,000  
			 DfT Survey of the UK element of EU provision of drink drive rehabilitations schemes TRL 6,847 1,028 
			 DfT Neighbourhood Road Safety initiatives project—surveys in schools and Hospitals University College London (lead supplier), University of Surrey, University of the West of England, University of Wales Swansea, Child Accident Prevention Trust (2)1,034,309 (3)5,000 
			 (4)200 
			  
			 DfT Demand for cars and their attributes BMRB—conducted the survey element 39,125 900 
			 DfT Use of Advanced Cabin Baggage X-ray equipment. QinetiQ 8,000 210 
			 D1T Analysis for Heathrow Consultation Ipsos-MORI and Detica — (5)— 
			 DfT Survey of Blue Badge Holders Faber Maunsell 55,297 (6)1,000 
			 DfT Survey of Blue Badge Holders attitudes and behaviours BMRB 26,396 (6)790 
			 HA Satisfaction with traffic management trial at junctions 19 and 12 of M25 Faber Maunsell 47,000 1,000 
			 HA Highways Agency Travel Information Services Omnibus GfK NOP 13,000 1,002 
			 DSA Driver CPC research Ipsos MORI 69,659 3,014 
			 VOSA 2 Stations test trial Beaufort Research 6,000 557 
			 DVLA Local Office Customer Survey MORI 75,450 1,409 
			 DVLA Electronic Delivery Channel Research Beaufort Research 15,570 1,762 
			 DVLA Theft Resistant Number Plate Beaufort Research 10,670 1,000 
			 DVLA EVL Postcard Research Beaufort Research 7,330 500 
			 DVLA 3D Verification by VISA MRUK 9,300 1,145 
			 DVLA Ten Year Renewal Phase 2 Post Office Research Beaufort Research 10,750 1,000 
			 DVLA Motoring Brand Awareness Omnibus Research TNS (via COI) 5,800 1,000 
			 (1) Includes qualitative research. (2) Total cost of contract that included these surveys. (3) Schools. (4) Hospitals. (5) In progress. (6) Blue Badge holders. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Qualitative research 2007-08 
			  Division/agency  Projects  (i) Firm  Cost  (£)  Number of participants 
			 DfT Attitudes and motivations of teleworkers NatCen 86,700 49 
			 DfT Travel needs behaviours and aspirations of Disabled People NatCen 97,599 45 
			 DfT Directgov Motoring Usability research Virtual Surveys 11,000 11 
			 DfT Transport Office/Business Link Usability research Virtual Surveys 35,000 31 
			 DfT Public acceptability of Road Pricing BMRB 566,111 446 
			 DfT Public Acceptability of New Technologies Accent 34,822 148 
			 DfT The Role of the Car Nat Cen 98,834 (1)15 
			 (2)44 
			  
			 DfT Qualitative depth interviews with Blue Badge Holders Faber Maunsell 22,841 35 
			 DfT Exploring Public attitudes to personal carbon dioxide emission information BMRB 87,034 178 
			 DfT Wider public's view of Blue Badge scheme Faber Maunsell 13,400 50 
			 DfT Understanding travel needs, behaviour and aspirations of people in later life NatCen 100,819 68 
			 DfT Understanding travel aspirations, needs and behaviour of young adults NatCen 109,831 (3)12 
			 (2)36 
			  
			 DfT Accessibility Planning -Evaluation scoping study Atkins and CRSP 88,057 (4)4 
			 DfT Attitudes to Climate change and Barriers / motivations to behavioural change People, science and Policy 411,500 141 
			 DVLA Ten Year Renewal Focus Group Research Beaufort Research 7,800 16 
			 DVLA EVL Creative Advertising Focus Group Research Beaufort Research 7,800 32 
			 DVLA EVL Web Design Focus Group Research Beaufort Research 7,800 32 
			 HA Mystery Shopping of HA Information Services Faber Maunsell 20,000 55 
			 HA Evaluation of Think Ahead Move Ahead booklet Faber Maunsell 14,000 598 
			 HA Evaluation of Think Ahead Move Ahead booklet (Part 2) Faber Maunsell 23,000 51 
			 VOSA Service agents Qualitative Research Simpson Carter 30,000 25 
			 Off Child and parents research Murmur 35,845 70 
			 DfT Drink Drive Davies McKerr 28,670 48 
			 DfT Driving for Work Firefish/AMV 48,469 52 
			 DfT Qualitative Halls for 2008 bus concessions Cragg Dawson Ross 4,900 20 
			 DfT Christmas Drink Drive Radio Leo Burnett/Ciao 13,571 24 
			 DfT Child creative development research Leo Burnett/Firefish (5)65,154 88 
			 DfT Mobiles viral research Dynamic Logic 5,280 100 
			 (1) Focus groups. (2) In-depth interviews. (3) Focus groups, (approximately eight per group). (4) Case studies. (5) Including VAT.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what average fine was imposed for the offence of use of a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 934W.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1417W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what Fairtrade products are  (a) available for purchase at her Department's staff catering facilities and  (b) offered at official departmental meetings and engagements.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following products are available for purchase in the Department's staff catering facilities:
	Green leaf juices;
	Green and Blacks Chocolate;
	Divine Chocolate;
	Geobars;
	Flapjacks;
	Tea;
	Filter coffee;
	Sugar;
	Hot chocolate.
	Fairtrade tea, filter coffee and hot chocolate are offered at official departmental meetings and engagements.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 1383-4W, on Heathrow airport, what the local environmental limits which the Government have set are; how these limits were determined; and what account was taken of them in  (a) the technical studies conducted by her Department to assess the scope for developing Heathrow since 2003 and  (b) the consultation document, Adding Capacity at Heathrow airport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The local environmental limits were set out clearly in our recent consultation document "Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport" (page 8). They flow from commitments made in the Air Transport White Paper 2003, which also explains their rationale. Both documents are available on the Department's website. These constraints have informed all of the Department's work on Heathrow development options.

London Underground: Public Private Partnership

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the statement of 10 March 2008,  Official Report, column 113, on London Underground, who undertook the work on comparative analysis of the public private partnership versus conventional public sector-led procurement referred to by the Minister of State in her Department at column 114; what  (a) account was taken and  (b) weight given to the potential for the private partner to go into administration by (i) those undertaking the work and (ii) each independent scrutineer of the work and methodology on which it was based; and if she will place in the Library copies of the reports of (1) KPMG, (2) Ernst and Young and (3) the National Audit Office on this matter.

Rosie Winterton: Work on the comparative analysis of the public-private partnership versus conventional public sector-led procurement was led by London Underground, with assistance from various organisations including KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ove Arup. Ernst and Young also undertook a separate, independent analysis on behalf of the then Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
	The potential for a PPP company to enter administration was fully considered during the construction, analysis and procurement of the PPPs and was reflected in both the Greater London Authority Act 1999 and the contracts themselves.
	The Ernst and Young report, "London Underground PPPs Value for money Review—Independent Review for the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions", was placed in the House Libraries when it was published on 7 February 2002. All National Audit Office reports, including their report, "The Financial Analysis for the London Underground Public Private Partnerships", published on 15 December 2000, are placed in the Libraries when they are published. On 31 March 2000, KPMG wrote to London Underground giving their "Final Assessment Report" into the PPPs and this included analysis of the public sector comparator and my officials are seeking London Underground's views as to whether or not this report can now be placed in the House Library.

Motor Vehicles: Licensing

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many appeals relating to Traffic Commissioner decisions on  (a) public service and  (b) heavy goods vehicle licensing matters have been (i) submitted to, (ii) heard by, (iii) upheld by and (iv) rejected by the Transport Tribunal.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	In the period between January 2003 to 6 June 2008, the following appeals against Traffic Commissioner decisions have been received and heard by the Transport Tribunal.
	
		
			   Public service  Heavy good vehicles 
			 Submitted 134 509 
			 Heard 98 342 
			 Allowed 38 96 
			 Dismissed 60 233 
		
	
	The difference between those submitted and those heard (203 cases total) account for the proportion of cases that have been withdrawn and/or settled. In addition, 13 appeals relating to heavy goods vehicles licensing matters have been referred back to the Traffic Commissioner for further consideration.

Official Cars: Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) advertised and  (b) actual fuel consumption in (i) imperial and (ii) metric measures are of each main model of car used by the Government car service for Ministers.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government Car and Despatch Agency's average fuel consumption figures for the main vehicles in its ministerial fleet areas are as follows:
	
		
			   Jaguar 2.7 V6 Diesel  Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi 16v  Toyota Prius  Honda Civic 1.4 IMA ES 
			 Urban (mpg) 26.0 29.7 65.7 54.3 
			 Extra Urban (mpg) 43.7 52.3 67.3 65.7 
			 Combined (mpg) 35.0 40.9 56.5 61.4 
			 GCDA Average (mpg) 26.03 36.16 42.15 31.89 
			  
			 Urban (1/100km) 10.8 9.5 4.3 5.2 
			 Extra Urban (1/100km) 6.5 5.4 4.2 4.3 
			 Combined (1/100km) 8.1 6.9 5.0 4.6 
			 GCDA Average (1/100km) 10.85 7.81 6.70 8.85

Parking

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what restrictions apply to a local authority in granting a commercial parking permit in a controlled parking zone.

Rosie Winterton: The Government do not impose restrictions on local authorities in respect of granting parking permits, either to individuals or classes of vehicle, on any part of the public highway.
	Such matters are for local decision, and local authorities have powers under Section 45 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to issue permits to people or vehicles as specified in a Traffic Regulation Order; having regard to amenity and local conditions.

Ports: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers  (a) entered and  (b) left each port in Wales in the last 12 years; and what tonnage of (i) imports and (ii) exports there was from each port in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

Railways: South East

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1120W, to the hon. Member for Lewes, on railways: South East, what guidance her Department has issued to Network Rail on the development of timetables to facilitate the delivery of the East London line extension and the construction of the Thameslink project; and if she will place in the Library a copy of such guidance.

Tom Harris: Network Rail has a requirement to develop a timetable to deliver the track access rights granted by the Office of Rail Regulation to Transport for London to facilitate the East London Line extension project phase 1, due to open in 2010. The Department has submitted no specific guidance to Network Rail in this regard.
	Network Rail has recently developed the South London Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS). This study, developed with all members of the rail industry, has provided a forum for discussions from all parties about how the East London services should be implemented, including required changes to other services.
	As part of the RUS process, Network Rail has assessed the possible timetable implications of platform reductions at London Bridge to facilitate the construction of the Thameslink scheme.
	The South London RUS document is available on the Network Rail website:
	www.networkrail.co.uk

Railways: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department has on the estimated average journey time by rail from Cardiff to Bangor in each of the last 12 years.

Tom Harris: The following was the average journey time by direct train service (Mondays to Fridays) from Cardiff to Bangor in each of the last 12 years (shown by date of National Rail timetable):
	
		
			  Timetable date  Average journey time 
			 May 2008 to December 2008 4 hours 28 minutes 
			 December 2007 to May 2008 4 hours 28 minutes 
			 May 2007 to December 2007 4 hours 28 minutes 
			 December 2006 to May 2007 4 hours 27 minutes 
			 June 2006 to December 2006 4 hours 29 minutes 
			 December 2005 to June 2006 4 hours 29 minutes 
			 June 2005 to December 2005 4 hours 24 minutes 
			 December 2004 to June 2005 4 hours 25 minutes 
			 May 2004 to December 2004 4 hours 26 minutes 
			 September 2003 to May 2004 4 hours 24 minutes 
			 May 2003 to September 2003 4 hours 26 minutes 
			 September 2002 to May 2003 4 hours 26 minutes 
			 June 2002 to September 2002 4 hours 13 minutes 
			 September 2001 to June 2002 4 hours 9 minutes 
			 May 2001 to September 2001 4 hours 17 minutes 
			 September 2000 to May 2001 4 hours 9 minutes 
			 May 2000 to September 2000 4 hours 14 minutes 
			 September 1999 to May 2000 4 hours 13 minutes 
			 May 1999 to September 1999 4 hours 13 minutes 
			 September 1998 to May 1999 4 hours 15 minutes 
			 May 1998 to September 1998 4 hours 14 minutes 
			 September 1997 to May 1998 4 hours 16 minutes 
			 June 1997 to September 1997 4 hours 20 minutes 
			 September 1996 to June 1997 4 hours 22 minutes 
			 June 1996 to September 1996 4 hours 22 minutes

Railways: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding her Department has allocated which has been used for the rail network in Wales in each of the last 12 years.

Tom Harris: The Department does not hold the information requested. However HM Treasury produce analyses of public expenditure, including that spent on rail according to the country or region of the UK for whose benefit the expenditure has been incurred. This is published in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2008 (PESA) and is available on the HM Treasury website at
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/finance_spendingstatistics/pes_publications/pespub_pesa08.cfm

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on the maintenance of trunk roads in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham in each year since 2000.

Tom Harris: It is estimated that in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham the Highways Agency (HA) spends approximately £560,000 per year on the M1 and M18 motorways on routine maintenance activities such as litter picking, grass cutting, winter maintenance, sweeping and routine inspections of the carriageways, safety fences and structures such as bridges and culverts.
	There are no all-purpose trunk roads in the borough.
	As well as routine maintenance activities the following table shows the amount the HA spent on large scale maintenance on the M1 in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham since 2003. Due to a change of contractors in 2003, there is no data available between 2000 and 2003.
	
		
			  Spend on maintenance between 2000 - to date in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham 
			   Scheme  Spend (£) 
			 2000-03 (1)— (1)— 
			 2003-04 — 0 
			 2004-05 M1 Junction 32-33 bridge repairs 194,000 
			 2005-06 — 0 
			 2006-07 M1 Junction 32-33 road renewal £2.36 million and M1 Junction 31-32 Road renewal £0.62 million 2.98 million 
			 2007-08 — 0 
			 (1) No information available due to change of contractor.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been provided to the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham for the purposes of highways maintenance in each year since 2000.

Rosie Winterton: The funding support allocated to Rotherham metropolitan borough council by the Department for capital highway maintenance for each year since 2000 is shown in the following table. It is for Rotherham metropolitan borough council to decide how the funding is spent in line with their priorities.
	
		
			   Funding (£000) 
			 1999-2000 1,102 
			 2000-01 1,809 
			 2001-02 3,124 
			 2002-03 3,297 
			 2003-04 2,473 
			 2004-05 2,885 
			 2005-06 2,291 
			 2006-07 3,917 
			 2007-08 2,009 
			 2008-09 2,164 
			 2009-10 2,188 
			 2010-11 2,516 
		
	
	These sums include annual formulaic allocations, bid-based funding for certain exceptional schemes costing less than £5 million and capital repairs to detrunked roads.
	Rotherham metropolitan borough council have also been allocated resource funding for maintenance of detrunked roads, set out as follows.
	
		
			   Funding (£000) 
			 2008-09 145 
			 2009-10 149 
			 2010-11 152 
		
	
	The authority submitted a claim for emergency capital highway maintenance funding in relation to the summer 2007 floods and were allocated £102,000 in 2007-08.
	In addition, central funding support for services, including routine highways services, is provided by Communities and Local Government through the revenue support grant. This funding is not ringed fenced.

Taxis: Complaints

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints have been made about licensed taxi drivers in each licensing authority in the last five years; and how many of these complaints have led to  (a) prosecution and  (b) loss of licence.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not keep a central record of complaints made to licensing authorities against taxi drivers and any subsequent action. If a licensing authority receives a complaint against an individual taxi driver, it is a matter for that authority to decide how to proceed in dealing with the complaint.

Taxis: Licensing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of  (a) licensed and  (b) unlicensed taxis operating in each licensing authority area;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to  (a) promote the use of licensed taxis and  (b) discourage the use of unlicensed taxis.

Rosie Winterton: We carry out surveys of local authorities, including information about the number of vehicles and drivers licensed in each local licensing authority area. The latest statistics, from March 2007, are on the Department's website. There were 73,328 taxis licensed in England and Wales at that time; there were also 132,505 private hire vehicles (PHVs—usually known as "minicabs").
	In order to offer a taxi or PHV service lawfully, the vehicle and the driver must be licensed; in the case of PHVs, there is an additional requirement for the operator to be licensed. It is for the relevant local authority to make an assessment of the extent of illegal operation in their area, and take appropriate enforcement action where necessary. We do not keep a central record of any such assessments.
	The Department is responsible for the legislative framework within which licensing authorities license taxis and within which taxis provide a service. We also issue guidance to local authorities about how they might best use their licensing powers.
	Our primary aim in carrying out this responsibility is to ensure public safety through the licensing regime.
	The Best Practice Guidance which we published in 2006 is designed to assist local licensing authorities in formulating suitable local policies.
	While the Department takes steps to ensure that the legislation and the guidance promote the use of licensed taxis, it is a matter for the local licensing authority to deal with actual instances of unlicensed taxi/PHV activity. There is a strong deterrent in place—the legislation allows a maximum fine of £2,500 for a person who is convicted of illegal plying for hire or taxi touting.

Taxis: Licensing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to improve regulation of licensed taxi drivers; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The legislation governing taxi (and private hire vehicle—PHV, minicab) licensing places on local licensing authorities a statutory duty to ensure that any person to whom they grant a taxi or PHV driver licence is a fit and proper person. Local authorities have responsibility for deciding what constitutes 'fit and proper', for the standards that they impose for the grant of a licence and for subsequent enforcement.
	The Department has provided Best Practice Guidance to assist local licensing authorities in carrying out their taxi licensing responsibilities. The Guidance includes advice about assessing taxi driver licence applicants. It can be found on the Department's website.
	We have also taken steps to enhance training opportunities for licensed taxi and PHV drivers. This includes providing financial support for the work of Go Skills, the sector skills council for the road transport industry in this area.

Taxis: Licensing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements are in place on taxi licensing authorities with regard to Criminal Records Bureau checks on applicants.

Rosie Winterton: Taxi licensing authorities must satisfy themselves that any person to whom they grant a taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) driver licence is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence. As part of this assessment, authorities can make use of information on an applicant's criminal record. Taxi and PHV drivers are listed as Exceptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that taxi licensing authorities are entitled to take spent convictions into account in assessing taxi and PHV driver licence applicants. Consequently, they can request either a standard disclosure or an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. The actual level of check will depend on the type of work which the driver is likely to undertake when they are licensed. However, the Department understands that authorities typically require enhanced disclosure.

Taxis: Licensing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many taxi licensing authorities are in operation; and how many taxis were issued with a licence in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: There are 343 taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing authorities in England and Wales.
	In the course of the past five years, the Department has carried out surveys of licensing authorities; these were in 2007, 2005 and 2004.
	The numbers of vehicles licensed in each case were:
	
		
			  As at March each year  Taxis  PHVs 
			 2004 66,684 80,809 
			 2005 67,814 123,451(1) 
			 2007 73,328 132,505 
			 (1) PHV licensing in London was introduced in 2004 so the 2005 figure takes account of the PHVs licensed in London for the first time.

Floods: Hull

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many transport-related applications for assistance from the funds announced by the Government to aid reconstruction following the floods in (a) Hull and (b) Gloucestershire in 2007 have been approved and paid; and how much has been paid in total.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	In response to the 2007 summer floods CLG has allocated and transferred flood recovery grant (FRG) of £2,762,000 to Hull and £2,763,000 to local authorities in Gloucestershire. Flood recovery grant is unringfenced so local authorities have had the flexibility to decide how to best to use the grant based on their own local circumstances. Allocations of FRG were made on the basis of the best available data held by local authorities at the time on the number of households affected by flooding.
	Following the summer 2007 floods, DSCF made available £3,214,424 to Hull, and £1,007,900 to Gloucestershire. These sums, which could be used for a range of purposes relating to schools and children's services, have already been transferred to the local authorities. DCSF's payments to local authorities were calculated according to a formula based on the number of schools severely, significantly or slightly damaged by the floods, the number of flooded homes, and the number of pupils in flooded schools—the latter two indicators to act as a proxy for the impact on other services for children, young people and families.
	DCSF is discussing with Hull an application for exceptional capital funding for costs arising from the floods; the amount of this application is currently under discussion, and nothing has yet been paid. There has been no claim from Gloucestershire for such funding.
	An initial claim submitted by Gloucestershire county council under the Department for Transport's emergency capital highways maintenance scheme has been processed and the £10.048 million allocated has been transferred to the authority. The funding received by the authority covers mainly repairs to landslips, roads, footways, structures, drainage and traffic signals.
	Gloucestershire has submitted evidence to support a further claim which the Department for Transport is considering. They expect the authority to submit additional evidence to support further repair works in due course.
	Kingston Upon Hull city council has not submitted a claim under the Department for Transport's emergency capital highways maintenance scheme.
	In addition Hull has received Bellwin payments amounting to £2,097,817 and Gloucestershire (this includes the county council, police authority and relevant district councils) has received £4,447,964 in Bellwin payments. Bellwin is a scheme of emergency financial assistance to help local authorities meet uninsurable costs they incur when dealing with the aftermath of an emergency in their area, rather than to fund recovery.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many cases involving equal shared care the Child Support Agency is dealing with; and in how many of those cases the father is the parent with care;
	(2)  how many cases involving shared residence orders the Child Support Agency is dealing with; and in how many of those cases the father is the parent with care.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 10 June 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	; and
	How many cases involving shared residence orders the Child Support Agency is dealing with; and in how many of those cases the father is the parent with care.
	The level of information the Child Support Agency holds on cases with shared care differs between old and new scheme cases, and does not classify cases as involving equal shared care as you have requested. Information on shared care for old scheme cases maintained on the new computer system (CS2) is not available. Such information as is available is set out in the attached tables.
	The Agency does not hold information on the number of cases with a shared residence order issued by the Courts.
	I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.
	
		
			  Table 1: New scheme cases maintained on CS2 broken down by shared care arrangements and gender of the parent with care: March 2008 
			  Parent with care  Shared care arrangement 
			 Female 105,700 
			 Male 8,700 
			  Notes: 1. Includes all new scheme cases with a calculation, including positive and nil calculations. 2. A shared care arrangement is defined as a case where the child spends at least 52 nights per year with the non resident parent. 3. There are a number of cases on both computer systems where the case is flagged as having shared care, but there are no qualifying children on the case. We have assumed that these are old shared cases i.e. arrears only cases where a shared care arrangement was previously in place, and have removed these from the figures provided. 4. Figures rounded to the nearest 100. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Old scheme cases maintained on CSCS broken down by number of nights a child spends with the non-resident parent: March 2008 
			   Parent with care 
			  Number of nights child spends with non resident parent  Male  Female 
			 0 to 1 15,000 357,400 
			 2 1,500 26,600 
			 3+ 700 8,300 
			  Notes: 1. Includes all old system (CSCS) cases with a calculation, including positive and nil calculations. 2. Cases where the child spends one night per week with the non-resident parent is recorded as 0 nights on the old system. The two categories can therefore not be separated. 3. Shared care information is not available for old rules cases held on the new computer (CS2) system. 4. There are a number of cases on both computer systems where the case is flagged as having shared care, but there are no qualifying children on the case. We have assumed that these are old shared cases i.e. arrears only cases where a shared care arrangement was previously in place, and have removed these from the figures provided. 5. The NRP is the parent who provides less day to day care for the child than the other parent, If both parents provide equal amounts of care for the child, the NRP is identified as the parent who is not receiving child benefit. If neither parent receives child benefit, a decision must be made on which parent provides less care in order to determine which is the NRP. In a small number of cases an NRP may have shared care for more than three nights but be treated as having less day to day care. 6. Figures rounded to nearest 100.

Children: Maintenance

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration he has given to the merits of defining both parents as a parent with care in cases of equal shared care.

James Plaskitt: We are continuing to consider how these cases should be dealt with. This is an issue that will fall for the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission once it is established.

Employment and Support Allowance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the proposed employment support allowance.

Stephen Timms: We have received numerous representations on employment and support allowance. These have included questions from hon. Members and Lords, and correspondence from hon. Members, organisations, and members of the public.

Employment and Support Allowance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the employment support allowance on people who have worked and paid national insurance contributions and have no partner and have no other income or savings.

Stephen Timms: Single people who have paid sufficient national insurance contributions will be entitled to claim contribution-based employment and support allowance. The basic rate of employment and support allowance will be £84.50 a week for those entitled to the work-related activity component and £89.50 for those entitled to the support component. These basic rates are the same for people on both the income-related and contribution-based benefit. Those in the support group on income-related employment and support allowance will also be automatically passported to the enhanced disability premium.
	People on contribution-based employment and support allowance who have no other income will need to apply separately for other benefits, such as help with NHS prescription charges, as is the case currently for those who are not in receipt of income-related benefits. However, providing they have no other income or capital, a person in this situation would be eligible for maximum housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Housing Benefit: East Riding of Yorkshire

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Beverley and Holderness will be affected by the decision of the Rent Service to review the Broad Rental Market Areas in the East Riding of Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: This information is not available.

Incapacity Benefit: Standards

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms he has put in place to measure progress towards the target of reducing the number receiving incapacity benefit by one million by 2015; and whether such mechanisms will measure total  (a) off-flow and  (b) net reductions.

Anne McGuire: Our aim is to reduce the case load by one million over a decade, starting from May 2005. We publish statistics for incapacity benefits on a quarterly basis, covering both off-flows and case loads. These data provide an effective mechanism for assessing progress towards our goals.

Occupational Pensions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average pension paid from occupational pension schemes was in each year since 1997, expressed in real terms in 1997 prices.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not available.
	Information on the amount of occupational pension received by people of pension age since 1997 can be found in table 3.7 of the publication "The Pensioners' Incomes Series 2005/06 (Revised)" which may be found in the Library.

Poverty: Children

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of children who would be lifted out of poverty if all households claimed in full their entitlement of council tax credit.

James Plaskitt: To date, around 200,000 children have been lifted out of poverty as a result of their households claiming council tax benefit. Just under 50,000 further children would be lifted out of poverty if all households claimed their full entitlement to council tax benefit.
	We have put in place measures to ensure take-up is improved generally and this includes young families. For example, we have simplified the application process to ensure that families can claim council tax benefit in a combined process alongside claims for income support and jobseeker's allowance. This means that they do not have to contact the council to make a separate claim for council tax benefit.
	We have also run promotional campaigns in each of the last five years to increase awareness of council tax benefit. In March 2008, regional press advertising was used to promote uptake of council tax benefit, aimed at pensioners and people of working age, with greatest focus in areas where our data suggest take-up may be low. We also provided marketing materials promoting council tax benefit to local authorities to be included in council tax bills.
	 Notes:
	1. Households are defined as being in poverty if their income is less than 60 per cent. of the national median equivalised income level. Income here is measured on a before housing costs basis.
	2. These figures have been derived using the Policy Simulation Model (PSM) which uses data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). These are estimated indicative figures.
	3. The PSM models the calculation of individual taxes and income-related benefit entitlement, by deriving detailed microdata from the latest available FRS.
	4. The PSM models the current policy year (2007-08) using the latest FRS data (2005-06), by uprating the FRS to represent the appropriate policy year.
	5. This estimated 50,000 is a relatively small change and should be treated with caution.

Social Fund: Funerals

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent from the Social Fund on  (a) funeral costs and  (b) doctors' fees associated with funeral costs in the last three years for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: Information regarding doctors' fees associated with funeral costs is not available. The information on expenditure on Social Fund funeral payments is in the following table.
	
		
			  Total gross expenditure on social fund funeral payments in Great Britain 
			   Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2005-06 45.4 
			 2006-07 46.0 
			 2007-08 46.0 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.  Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Social Security Benefits

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to tackle welfare dependency.

Stephen Timms: Our plans to tackle welfare dependency are set out in 'Ready for Work: Full employment in our generation' which was published on 13 December 2007. Copies are available in the Library.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the value of benefits stopped following investigation of reports to the Benefit Fraud Hotline was in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by type of benefit; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many convictions for benefit fraud relating to each type of benefit were made arising from reports to the Benefit Fraud Hotline in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many prosecutions for benefit fraud relating to each type of benefit were brought following investigation of reports to the Benefit Fraud Hotline in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many cases of benefit fraud relating to each type of benefit arising from reports to the Benefit Fraud Hotline were formally investigated in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available broken down by benefit type. The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Benefit fraud hotline outcomes, Great Britain 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Investigations (Number) 47,650 50,000 62,886 51,458 54,284 
			 Prosecutions (Number) 696 699 811 679 910 
			 Convictions (Number) 641 655 719 533 664 
			 Recoverable Overpayments (£) 18,177,645 17,708,947 13,881,781 13,197,041 17,923,183 
			  Notes: 1. Figures from 2003 to 2007 include only FIBS (fraud information by sector) data on national benefit fraud hotline reports via telephone and internet. 2. 2007-08 figures also include FRAIMS (fraud referral and intervention management system) figures with the exception of 'convictions' as this information is not yet available.

Social Security Benefits: Separation

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much expenditure his Department incurred in the payment of benefits to individuals who have separated from their partner after a period of cohabitation in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Social Security Benefits: Training

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the 16-hour rule on take-up of employment and skills opportunities.

Stephen Timms: Recipients of jobseeker's allowance are not allowed to study or train full time while in receipt of that benefit. The '16-hour rule' allows jobseeker's allowance recipients to take up part-time study and training for up to 16 hours (the standard number of weekly guided learning hours for a full-time course funded by the Learning and Skills Council, the primary source of funding for further education in England), if they remain available for work and are actively seeking work. We are aware that many jobseeker's allowance recipients take advantage of such part-time activities.
	We have not assessed the impact of this rule on the take up of pre-employment study and training opportunities. Such an assessment would give us only a partial picture of the reasons why jobseeker's allowance recipients may not take up pre-employment opportunities. Others are the associated costs of learning, such as child care and travel; family circumstances, health; and past experience of learning.
	The November Green Paper included announcements to enable access to limited full-time training while on benefit. Further details will be announced in due course.

Unemployment: Foreign Workers

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance his Department provides to migrant workers from A8 countries who subsequently become unemployed in this country.

Stephen Timms: Once an A8 migrant has completed 12 months continuous employment as a registered worker those who remain in the labour market have the same rights to access Jobcentre Plus services including benefit support and advice, as other EEA and UK nationals.

TREASURY

Bank Notes

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will improve the water resistance of bank notes.

Kitty Ussher: The Bank of England's banknotes are already made from special paper that is treated during the production process to make it more water resistant, and give it significantly more strength when wet than commercially available paper.
	The Bank of England has no plans to improve the water resistance of banknotes further.
	The Bank of England offers a free-of-charge service for members of the public to be able to claim value on any accidentally damaged, mutilated or contaminated Bank of England notes. The Bank will give value for the notes provided there are sufficient fragments or remains.

Corporation Tax: Tax Avoidance

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department were dealing with corporate tax avoidance in each year from 1997 to 2007.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC is unable to isolate the number of staff working on corporate tax avoidance specifically as each caseworker covers a range of different avoidance schemes and volumetrics do not discriminate down to this level. The figures quoted in this response refer to HM Revenue and Customs which was formed on 18 April 2005. Prior to that date the former departments approached anti-avoidance activity in very different ways and no comparative figures are available.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to release the home addresses of  (a) senior and  (b) middle-ranking officials, if requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and what assessment he has made of the implications for personal security resulting from the release of such data.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 22 May 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice on 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 640W.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what proportion of its staff his Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Angela Eagle: This information is not held centrally and would be available only at a disproportionate cost.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual revenue to the Exchequer which would arise from extending the present rate of road fuel duty applicable to unleaded petrol that is not ultra-low sulphur or sulphur-free to aviation fuel  (a) without and  (b) with value added tax added to the duty.

Angela Eagle: Approximately 16 billion litres of aviation turbine fuel (Avtur), which is used in jet and turboprop aircraft, was consumed in the UK in 2006. Imposing duty at the current rate for unleaded petrol of 53.65 pence per litre would imply revenue of approximately 8.5 billion, although actual revenue would be likely to be lower than this because of behavioural responses from airlines and passengers. However, imposing duty on the commercial use of Avtur for international flights would be contrary to our international obligations, although aviation gasoline, which is used in piston-engined aircraft, is already subject to fuel duty.
	HM Revenue and Customs does not hold sufficient information with which to make an estimate of any additional VAT revenue that could arise. However, under the normal rules of the tax, any VAT charged can be reclaimed by a VAT registered airline or other business to the extent that it relates to their taxable business activities.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of registered keepers of vehicles in Peterborough constituency who will pay more graduated vehicle excise duty between 2008-09 and 2011-12 for vehicles in  (a) Band A,  (b) Band B,  (c) Band C,  (d) Band D,  (e) Band E,  (f) Band F and  (g) Band G; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 22 May 2008
	The Government do not currently have information on the number of cars within each VED band that are registered within particular constituencies.
	As a result of the vehicle excise duty reforms announced at Budget 2008, in 2009-10, it is estimated that a third of drivers will be better off in real terms, and in total, approximately 55 per cent. of drivers will be no worse off.

London Airports

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick,  (c) Luton and  (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

Angela Eagle: Based on records held in HM Treasury's accounting system since May 2006 there were 18 official occasions on which VIP facilities were used at Heathrow airport at a total cost of 4,853. There is no record of similar bookings and expenditure incurred at either Gatwick, Luton or Stansted airports.
	A monthly breakdown of usage is given as follows.
	
		
			  Month  Number of bookings  Cost () 
			 May 2006 2 539 
			 September 2006 4 1,079 
			 November 2006 2 539 
			 January 2007 2 539 
			 February 2007 2 539 
			 April 2007 2 539 
			 June 2007 2 539 
			 October 2007 2 539

Tax Allowances: Pensions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief on pension contributions was claimed at  (a) the basic rate and  (b) a higher rate in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Kitty Ussher: Latest estimates of the tax relief on pension contributions are available in Table 7.9 on Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/pensions/menu.htm
	A break down of tax relief on individual and employee contributions broken down by the individual's marginal tax rate is provided in the following table. This distribution relates to financial year 2005-06, the latest for which data are available.
	
		
			  Marginal income tax rate  Percentage of tax relief 
			 Higher rate 55 
			 Those that would be higher rate without the tax relief 5 
			 Others 40 
			  Note: This distribution is based on the 2005-06 Survey of Personal Incomes. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 per cent. 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide such a breakdown for employer contributions.

Taxation: Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the proposed aviation duty is predicated on aircraft weight; and what consideration was given to its predication on aircraft emissions.

Angela Eagle: Details of the Government's thinking on this issue were clearly set out in chapter 2 of the consultation document 'Aviation duty: a consultation', published on 31 March 2008.
	The maximum take-off weight of an aircraft was put forward as the lead option as it has been shown to be a reasonable proxy of aircraft emissions as seen in graph 2.1 of the consultation document.
	The formal consultation period closed on 24 April and HM Treasury is currently analysing the over 160 responses received, before the Chancellor announces the final design details in the autumn.

VAT: Safety Belts

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend to child restraint bases used with standard ISOFIX points the same reduced rate of VAT applicable to the children's car seats designed to operate in tandem with them.

Jane Kennedy: All taxes are kept under review and changes are announced as part of the normal Budget process.

Windfall Tax: Utilities

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of introducing a windfall profits tax on energy suppliers.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury considers any representations on tax issues including tax proposals. Proposals about tax are dealt with by the Chancellor in the usual Budget/pre-Budget report cycle.

Written Questions: Government Responses

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer question 206123, tabled by the hon. Member for Southend West on 13 May 2008, on vehicle excise duty; what the reason is for the time taken to respond; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I answered the hon. Member's question on 4 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 926-27W.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Banks: Audit

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will introduce legislation to prohibit auditors of banks from selling consultancy services to their audit clients.

Gareth Thomas: The provision of consultancy services to audit clients is already regulated in two ways:
	by the Ethical Standards of the Auditing Practices Board, which auditors are required to follow. These standards were introduced following the review of accounting and audit regulation after Enron and other corporate scandals earlier in the decade. The standards require auditors to adopt safeguards to mitigate any threats to their objectivity which might result from their providing consultancy services, or to refrain from providing the services. In April 2008 the Auditing Practices Board concluded a review of the Ethical Standards which showed broad support for continuing with this overall approach.
	by the requirement on companies to disclose in their annual accounts any sums paid to auditors for non-audit services.
	I therefore, have no plans to introduce further changes to the above rules.

Departmental Orders and Regulations

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many statutory instruments have been  (a) made and  (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department and its predecessor since 1997.

Gareth Thomas: Figures(1) for the period 1998 to 30 April 2008 show that a total of 1,328 statutory instruments were made by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and its predecessor.
	Figures for 1997 are unavailable and the information for 1998 may comprise only partial details of statutory instruments made during that year. In addition the Department made 23 Orders in Counsel(2) during the period 2003 - 30 April 2008.
	Figures for Orders in Council made prior to 2003 and statutory instruments revoked since 1997 are not held centrally and could only be obtains at disproportionate cost.
	(1) Office of Public Sector Information
	(2 )Departmental records

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Gareth Thomas: The former Department of Trade and Industry (up to June 2007) and the Department for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform awarded end-year performance awards to highly successful performers as part of the annual pay award.
	Based on the information available, in the 2007-08 financial year, the total amount of annual performance awards is in the following table.
	
		
			   Financial year( 1 ) 2007-08 
			 Number of performance awards paid to senior civil servants 143 
			 Number of performance awards paid to all staff(2) 1,065 
			 Annual Performance Awards paid to senior civil servants () 1,126,000 
			 Annual performance awards paid to all staff(2 )() 2,265,502 
			 (1) Financial year running from 1 April to 31 March. (2) Includes staff who were transferred from DTI to DIUS as part of the June 2007 Machinery of Government changes as these staff received a DTI/BERR pay award in 2007. Does not include those staff transferred into BERR from Cabinet Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government as these staff received Cabinet Office and DCLG pay awards respectively in 2007.  Notes: 1. The annual performance awards are paid on a non-consolidated, non-pensionable basis and do not increase the Department's pay-bill costs each year. For permanent members of the senior civil service, performance awards are a non-consolidated, non-pensionable element of the overall remuneration package and range in size from 0 per cent. to 15 per cent. of base pay. For the SCS the senior salaries review body determines the level of expenditure to cover bonuses. 2. Performance awards made up 1.5 per cent. of the Department's pay bill.

Departmental Postal Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company.

Gareth Thomas: The question requires information from a number of different sources which could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Directors: Disqualification

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many disqualification undertakings have been received by his Department from company directors since 1 April 2003.

Patrick McFadden: The number of disqualification undertakings since 1 April 2003 is:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 1,154 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 950 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 906 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 954 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 897 
			 1 April 2008 to 19 May 2009 127

Members: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letters of 5 March 2008, 9 April 2008 and 9 May 2008 from the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare regarding a constituent, Mr Michael Rogers; and what the reasons for the time taken to reply are.

Gareth Thomas: My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Competitiveness, responded on 28 May, the delay in responding was due to an administrative error.

Post Offices: Closures

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment criteria has been used by the Post Office to produce branch closure proposals in Copeland.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd., in developing its post office closure proposals, is required to meet the access criteria requirements, to take account of local geography and to consider a range of factors, including the local demographics, availability of public transport, alternative access to key post office services and the impact of closures on local economies. Under the Cumbria area plan proposals, on which public consultation started on 18 March and closed on 27 May, there would be no change to the office currently used by 89.6 per cent. of customers and in total 98.5 per cent. would see no change or be within one mile by road of an alternative branch. Decisions are scheduled to be announced on 18 June.

Post Offices: Closures

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many post offices in Halifax were closed between 1992 and 1997.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Postal Services

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many operational post boxes there were for use by the general public in each year since 1997.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 2 June 2008
	This is an operational matter for which Royal Mail has direct responsibility. I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to provide a direct reply to the hon. Member.
	A copy of the response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Tattooing: Complaints

Patricia Hewitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many complaints his Department has received from consumers dissatisfied with the service they received from an organisation offering tattoos and/or tattoo removals in the last three years.

Gareth Thomas: Consumer Direct, a Government backed telephone and on-line advice service has recorded 517 complaints from consumers relating to businesses offering tattoos and body piercing between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2007.
	BERR do not maintain a separate database of consumer complaints about traders.

Trade: Royal Visits

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which countries have been visited by HRH Prince Andrew in his role as UK Special Representative for Trade and Investment since he took up his position; what the dates were of each visit; what mode of transport he used to travel to and from each country; and how many  (a) officials and  (b) other people accompanied him on each.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 15 May 2008
	HRH the Duke of York took up his role as the UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment on 1 October 2001. Details of all countries visited by the Duke of York in this role can be found either at:
	www.thedukfeofyork.org
	(for overseas visits in 2006 to present day) or for visits dating back to 2001 from the Court Circular on the British Monarchy's main site at:
	www.royal.gov.uk
	The mode of transport used for travel to and from each visit is a decision for the Royal Household based on advice from the Royal Travel Office.
	It is a decision for the Royal Household who accompanies the Duke of York.
	It is usual for locally based officials to accompany the Duke of York on visits in their markets.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airguns: Crime

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people were  (a) charged with and  (b) convicted of remote selling or hiring of an air weapon over the internet in each month since the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 came into effect; and of those convicted how many were given (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a fine and (iii) an alternative punishment;
	(2)  how many people under 18 years old were  (a) charged and  (b) convicted under the Firearms Act 1968 of offences involving the purchasing or hiring of an air weapon in each of the last five years; and of those convicted how many were given (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a fine and (iii) an alternative punishment;
	(3)  how many people were  (a) charged and  (b) convicted of possession of (i) an air gun or (ii) an imitation firearm, in a public place without legal authority or reasonable excuse in each year since the coming into effect of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003; and of those convicted, how many were given (A) a custodial sentence, (B) a fine and (C) an alternative punishment.

Jacqui Smith: holding answers 16 and 19 May 2008
	Sale or hiring of an air weapon is covered by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 which came into force during 2007.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	Court proceedings data held by the Ministry of Justice for the offence of purchasing or hiring firearm or ammunition show that no persons under 18 were proceeded against, or found guilty for the years 2002 to 2006 in England and Wales.
	Charging data are not held by the Ministry of Justice, hence proceeded against, and found guilty data are normally provided in lieu.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	Court proceedings data held by the Ministry of Justice for the number of persons proceeded against, found guilty, sentenced to; (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a fine or (iii) an alternative punishment for the offence of possession of an air gun, or imitation firearm, for the years 2003 to 2006 in England and Wales can be viewed in the table.
	Charging data are not held by the Ministry of Justice. Information on numbers proceeded against has been provided in lieu of charging data.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against, found guilty, with sentence breakdowns for the offence carrying a loaded or unloaded imitation firearm or air weapon in public place (Group III), England and Wales, 2003 - 06( 1, 2, 3) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Proceeded against 168 440 749 619 
			  
			  Found guilty 129 360 659 514 
			  
			  Result 
			 Committed for sentence  2 14 8 
			 Absolute discharge 3 6 10 7 
			 Conditional discharge 25 62 109 94 
			 Fine 51 96 117 85 
			 Community sentence 41 159 340 239 
			 Fully suspended sentence   11 27 
			 Immediate custody 5 29 48 46 
			 Otherwise dealt with 4 6 10 8 
			 Total 129 360 659 514 
			  = Nil.  (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3 )Includes the following statute: Firearms Act 1968, section 19 as amended by Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, section 37(1)(b) and (d) and (2).   Source:  CJEAOCJR (Office for Criminal Justice Reform)Ministry of Justice Reform.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there were for selling alcohol to people under the age of 18 years from  (a) on premises and  (b) off premises in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 March 2008
	The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to people under the age of 18 years in England and Wales by police force area can be viewed in the following table. It is not possible to differentiate between sales from on premises or off premises, neither is it possible to break down the Court Proceedings Database by local authority area.
	
		
			  Number of defendants found guilty at all courts for selected alcohol offences, broken down by police force area, England and Wales, 2002 - 06( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			  Force  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset  2  10 5 
			 Bedfordshire 1 1 5 9 22 
			 Cambridgeshire   1 7 21 
			 Cheshire 3 5 15 5 6 
			 Cleveland 1 1 8 12 7 
			 Cumbria   1 6 1 
			 Derbyshire  24 13 6 7 
			 Devon and Cornwall   11 3 4 
			 Dorset  8 3 7  
			 Durham   2   
			 Essex 2 7  8 10 
			 Gloucestershire   1 5 10 
			 Greater Manchester 28 87 135 92 112 
			 Hampshire 3  7 8  
			 Hertfordshire   6 1 35 
			 Humberside   5 1 3 
			 Kent 3 10 11 10 2 
			 Lancashire 7 13 15 65 22 
			 Leicestershire 9 11 4 15 31 
			 Lincolnshire  11 3 1 1 
			 Merseyside 6 27 9 11 16 
			 Metropolitan Police 9 77 134 206 199 
			 Norfolk  1 3 1  
			 North Yorkshire  1 17 1 19 
			 Northamptonshire 1   6 10 
			 Northumbria 4 31 35 55 23 
			 Nottinghamshire  2  9 29 
			 South Yorkshire8 9 
			 Staffordshire 3 6 2 12 21 
			 Suffolk3 2 
			 Surrey 2 2 8 11 17 
			 Sussex  7 3 1 20 
			 Thames Valley  4 9 5 14 
			 Warwickshire  23 25 7 2 
			 West Mercia  6 3 15 7 
			 West Midlands 4 19 40 63 60 
			 West Yorkshire 8 1 20 11 10 
			 Wiltshire 1 3 3 9 6 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1 5 11 4 15 
			 Gwent 5 2 12 12 14 
			 North Wales 1 5 4 10 4 
			 South Wales 3 17 24 41 58 
			 Total 105 419 608 772 854 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 schedule (sec 3) para 4(1). Licensing Act 1964 sec 169(1). Sale of alcohol to a person under 18 Licensing Act 2003 S.146(1) Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Licensing Act 1964 sec 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 sec 17. Allow sale of alcohol to an individual under 18. Licensing Act 2003 sec 147(1) and (5). (4) The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005.  Sources: Court proceedings data held by RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform Ministry of Justice

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were for being drunk and disorderly of defendants aged 10 to 17 years in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) each police force area in England in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The number of defendants aged 10 to 17 years proceeded against at magistrates courts for drunk and disorderly related offences by police force area in England and in England and Wales for the years 1997 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	
		
			  N umber  of defendants aged 10 to 17 years who were proceeded against at magistrates' courts for drunk and disorderly related offences in England and Wales, and by police force area in England( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			  Force  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 16 13 13 13 27 22 25 18 25 25 
			 Bedfordshire 2 14 6 12 12 6 15 16 11 7 
			 Cambridgeshire 8 5 13 7 10 4 16 19 12 13 
			 Cheshire 56 56 46 50 57 59 59 63 11 14 
			 City of London 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 84 75 91 62 74 78 75 66 25 18 
			 Cumbria 79 62 61 47 53 51 63 53 42 48 
			 Derbyshire 24 19 8 19 29 34 34 45 25 18 
			 Devon and Cornwall 40 40 34 65 89 64 78 97 69 82 
			 Dorset 17 21 13 22 25 27 30 12 5 10 
			 Durham 32 54 67 57 50 61 59 55 76 52 
			 Essex 42 43 42 69 53 29 27 27 11 11 
			 Gloucestershire 17 7 11 12 9 9 14 9 8 5 
			 Greater Manchester 55 65 62 106 93 77 67 47 25 21 
			 Hampshire 51 87 101 85 84 81 83 85 62 33 
			 Hertfordshire 21 14 25 27 31 36 28 20 29 10 
			 Humberside 14 8 23 24 23 26 16 27 17 19 
			 Kent 46 42 63 80 87 85 125 132 71 69 
			 Lancashire 79 110 164 186 210 201 209 124 80 92 
			 Leicestershire 3 1 7 1 5 2 1 0 1 0 
			 Lincolnshire 35 58 47 31 40 44 43 48 12 2 
			 Merseyside 287 196 168 198 167 166 170 129 72 77 
			 Metropolitan Police 52 51 57 75 113 90 103 70 27 34 
			 Norfolk 2 5 4 4 8 8 12 8 3 3 
			 North Yorkshire 12 19 30 29 34 36 39 21 32 27 
			 Northamptonshire 1 0 1 3 1 3 5 6 2 4 
			 Northumbria 255 316 334 373 367 384 409 471 515 441 
			 Nottinghamshire 32 36 37 22 33 26 25 14 16 18 
			 South Yorkshire 85 80 103 127 94 116 125 127 54 64 
			 Staffordshire(5) 20 17 23 0 17 25 42 23 24 12 
			 Suffolk 7 6 13 19 27 36 39 36 20 8 
			 Surrey 20 22 13 25 34 34 31 28 32 13 
			 Sussex 32 30 11 41 43 54 62 46 41 37 
			 Thames Valley 39 59 48 47 84 64 50 63 42 36 
			 Warwickshire 26 23 28 20 26 11 14 9 3 7 
			 West Mercia 37 34 34 35 59 45 31 63 64 51 
			 West Midlands 45 27 13 30 22 39 43 35 20 42 
			 West Yorkshire 134 158 205 187 165 127 169 66 62 128 
			 Wiltshire 9 21 12 19 18 26 25 30 16 14 
			 England and Wales 2,028 2,111 2,247 2,410 2,536 2,451 2,614 2,372 1,816 1,685 
			 (1) Data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes:  Being found drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premises. Licensing Act 1872 Sec 12.  Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour. Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec.91. (3 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4 )Figures include other: public bodies, companies, organisations. 5. Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.  Source:  Court proceedings data held by CJEAOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice. Our Ref: IOS 250-08 (Table).

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) cautions there were in relation to selling alcohol to children and young people under the age of 18 years in (i) England and Wales and (ii) each police force area in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and the number issued with a caution for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years in England and Wales, by police force area, 1997 to 2006 can be viewed in the following tables 1 and 2.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to persons aged under 18 years, in England and Wales, by police force area, 1997  to  2006( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4,)( )( 5) 
			  Force  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 22 3 0 1 0 2 0 14 5 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 7 10 24 
			 Cambridgeshire 2 7 0 4 2 0 0 4 9 27 
			 Cheshire 5 14 10 6 0 4 16 20 8 6 
			 Cleveland 0 2 0 0 1 1 4 10 14 11 
			 Cumbria 4 11 4 0 2 2 1 1 8 1 
			 Derbyshire 11 7 6 8 3 0 37 22 13 8 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 9 1 2 0 1 0 12 8 6 
			 Dorset 2 6 1 0 3 0 9 10 35 7 
			 Durham 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 
			 Essex 6 7 2 0 2 3 7 2 8 16 
			 Gloucestershire 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 10 
			 Greater Manchester 21 27 21 22 20 39 129 180 117 160 
			 Hampshire 1 7 6 3 2 4 0 9 11 2 
			 Hertfordshire 0 3 0 1 0 1 1 8 3 40 
			 Humberside 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 11 2 6 
			 Kent 0 1 0 0 5 3 12 15 14 2 
			 Lancashire 17 3 6 1 13 14 23 22 89 32 
			 Leicestershire 1 3 1 1 1 10 15 10 27 45 
			 Lincolnshire 0 2 0 0 0 0 17 4 11 10 
			 Merseyside 8 3 0 1 0 14 42 19 16 34 
			 Metropolitan Police 13 13 17 2 19 12 113 167 253 236 
			 Norfolk 1 1 4 0 0 0 1 9 3 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 3 3 0 0 0 7 22 3 68 
			 Northamptonshire 5 2 0 0 3 1 0 0 11 13 
			 Northumbria 34 92 41 17 17 8 38 51 79 41 
			 Nottinghamshire 3 1 7 0 0 0 9 0 11 37 
			 South Yorkshire 2 4 5 14 22 0 0 5 18 10 
			 Staffordshire 11 2 1 0 0 3 8 5 20 23 
			 Suffolk 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 
			 Surrey 3 3 1 0 0 5 4 10 13 18 
			 Sussex 3 3 1 2 7 0 8 4 4 33 
			 Thames Valley 2 4 2 1 3 0 6 28 15 36 
			 Warwickshire 0 1 0 0 0 0 27 26 7 2 
			 West Mercia 3 3 5 3 3 0 7 5 19 10 
			 West Midlands 11 14 28 18 8 10 20 45 76 74 
			 West Yorkshire 14 12 9 8 9 14 2 21 15 17 
			 Wiltshire 0 2 0 2 2 1 6 10 23 10 
			 Dyfed-Powys 3 3 6 8 3 2 5 24 6 18 
			 Gwent 13 5 5 4 5 9 2 20 16 21 
			 North Wales 1 1 2 2 1 1 7 5 10 4 
			 South Wales 6 4 6 0 0 7 29 34 55 72 
			 England and Wales 215 311 205 132 158 170 616 861 1,084 1,199 
			 (1) Data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Data include the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions: Licensing Act 2003 S.146 Sale of alcohol to person under 18. Licensing Act 2003 S.147 Allowing sale of alcohol to person under 18. Licensing Act 2003 S.147A Persistently sell alcohol to children Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(1). Licensing Act 1964 Sec. 169(1). Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing Act 1964 Sec. 181 A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 Sec. 17. Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. (4) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table. (5) Figures include Other: Public bodies, companies, organisations.  Source: Court proceedings data held by CJEAOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of defendants issued with a caution for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to persons aged under 18 years, in England and Wales, by police force area, 1997  to  2006( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4) 
			  Force  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 6 0 0 0 4 2 7 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 3 3 1 0 0 0 2 2 7 3 
			 Cleveland 5 0 9 7 1 1 0 2 3 5 
			 Cumbria 4 1 0 0 3 1 0 5 8 3 
			 Derbyshire 1 4 0 3 2 0 2 0 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
			 Dorset 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 12 4 
			 Durham 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 12 4 5 0 1 12 13 5 2 2 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 25 7 5 6 8 0 3 0 0 1 
			 Hampshire 10 4 2 2 3 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Humberside 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Kent 5 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 11 5 2 1 4 21 19 24 15 7 
			 Leicestershire 0 2 0 0 2 2 1 7 2 0 
			 Lincolnshire 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 20 2 4 1 5 11 4 11 4 13 
			 Metropolitan Police 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Norfolk 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 1 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Northamptonshire 1 0 4 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northumbria 10 3 5 0 1 3 0 1 1 3 
			 Nottinghamshire 3 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 19 8 5 7 1 0 38 35 25 8 
			 Staffordshire 2 4 0 5 2 3 3 7 11 2 
			 Suffolk 9 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 
			 Sussex 3 4 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Thames Valley 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Warwickshire 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 5 0 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 1 
			 West Midlands 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Wiltshire 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 2 3 4 1 3 1 2 3 0 
			 Gwent 3 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 
			 North Wales 3 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Wales 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 England and Wales 174 81 72 55 51 61 89 116 102 61 
			 (1) Data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Data include the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions: Licensing Act 2003 S.146 Sale of alcohol to person under 18. Licensing Act 2003 S.147 Allowing sale of alcohol to person under 18. Licensing Act 2003 S.147A Persistently sell alcohol to children Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(1). Licensing Act 1964 Sec. 169(1). Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing Act 1964 Sec. 181 A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 Sec. 17. Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. (4) Figures include Other: Public bodies, companies, organisations.  Source: Court proceedings data held by CJEAOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Devon

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders were imposed in the East Devon constituency in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued is not collected centrally at parliamentary constituency area level.
	The number of ASBOs issued in the Devon and Cornwall Criminal Justice System (CJS) area from January 2002 to December 2006 (latest available) is shown in the following table. CJS areas are coterminous with police force areas.
	
		
			  Number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts in the Devon and Cornwall Criminal Justice System (CJS) area, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, 2002-06 
			  Devon and Cornwall  Number 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 13 
			 2004 81 
			 2005 73 
			 2006 46 
			 Total 216 
			  Notes: 1. Previously issued data have been revised. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Cannabis: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police seizures of cannabis there were in Suffolk in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of police seizures of cannabis in Suffolk for 2001 - 05( 1) 
			   Number of cannabis seizures( 2) 
			 2001(3) 420 
			 2002(3) 770 
			 2003 660 
			 2004(4) 1,080 
			 2005(4) 1,181 
			 (1) Data for 2006-07 are scheduled to be published in October 2008. Future publications will be on a financial year basis. (2) 2005 figures are unrounded; previous years rounded. (3) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Figures prior to this date are not directly comparable with those for later years. (4) Increases in cannabis seizures in 2004 and 2005 are thought to be associated with the introduction of cannabis warnings on 1 April 2004.

Crime: Business

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the cost to  (a) her Department and  (b) the British Retail Consortium of running the Action Against Business Crime partnership in each of the last five years was; and what the projected cost to both is in each of the next five years;
	(2)  what the cost to  (a) her Department and  (b) the British Retail Consortium of setting up the National Staff Dismissal Register is; and what the projected cost to both is in each of the first five years of its operation;
	(3)  whether the National Staff Dismissal Register will record details of former employees of companies which subscribe to the Register who have never been charged with or convicted of any offence; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  how much her Department contributed to the cost of the establishment of the National Staff Dismissal Register; and what contribution is proposed in each of the first five years of the register's operation;
	(5)  what estimate she has made of how many records will be added to the National Staff Dismissal Register in each of the first 12 months of its operation; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Action Against Business Crime (AABC) group was set up in 2004 in a joint venture between the Home Office and the British Retail Consortium in order to build and support business crime reduction partnerships in towns and cities across England and Wales. The AABC has received 1,139,000 of grants from the Home Office between the financial years 2003-04 to 2006-07 to set up and maintain 100 new business crime reduction partnerships.
	This total is broken down as follows:
	
		
			
			 2003-04 102,000 
			 2004-05 213,000 
			 2005-06 644,000 
			 2006-07 180,000 
		
	
	All Home Office funding for AABC ceased at the end of March 2007.
	The Home Office has not been involved in the development and setting up of the National Staff Dismissal register and will not be involved in any way in its operation.

Crime: Statistics

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under 16 years-old will be interviewed when the British Crime Survey is extended to this age group.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office sought independent expert advice on the feasibility of extending the BCS to include children under 16 years old and this was published on 15 May 2008 (see following link to report).
	The advice we received was to obtain a sample of children aged 10-15 within households already selected for the core BCS. Based on this, we expect to interview around 4,000 under 16 year-olds every year.
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/horr06c.pdf

Domestic Violence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what her most recent estimate is of the drop-out rate of domestic violence perpetrators from  (a) national and  (b) local domestic violence projects;
	(2)  how much funding has been allocated to projects aimed at supporting  (a) perpetrators and  (b) victims of domestic violence using (i) psychotherapy and psychoanalysis and (ii) cognitive behavioural therapy in 2008-09;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the merits of  (a) psychotherapy and psychoanalysis and  (b) cognitive behavioural therapy for (i) perpetrators and (ii) victims of domestic violence;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of treatments available for perpetrators of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no evidence available regarding the effectiveness of accredited domestic violence programmes, which are delivered within England and Wales. However we will be reporting the outcome of an implementation study in September 2008 and commissioning an evaluation study based upon the results of this study.
	The National Offender Management Service does not provide psychotherapy; psychoanalysis or cognitive behavioural therapy to the perpetrators or victims of domestic violence. It does deliver accredited programmes to men sentenced by the courts. Additionally the victims of domestic violence are supported by independent domestic violence advisers attached to the specialist domestic violence courts and women safety workers assigned to all probation areas/trusts. Both have a wide network of contacts to assist the victims of domestic violence, either directly or as part of the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) and Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).
	In terms of funding 3 million per annum is provided to fond the independent domestic violence advisers (IDVA) who support victims through the court process and can make contacts/referrals for victims. Additionally probation areas fund women safety workers (WSW) from their budgets and NOMS provides a further grant to areas of 750,000. Funding is not made by this department to support psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and cognitive behavioural therapy.
	National drop out rates for the accredited domestic programmes delivered by the Probation Service in the year 2007-08 was 37 per cent. This is an improvement from previous years. We do not hold information for local projects.

Firearms: Crime

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many gun crimes there were in Cheshire in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Data on the number of crimes recorded by Cheshire police in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were reported to have been used, by being fired, used as a blunt instrument or in a threat from 2002-03 up to and including 2006-07 are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Crimes recorded by Cheshire police in which firearms (excluding air weapons), were reported to have been used( 1) , 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   Recorded crimes 
			 2002-03(2) 31 
			 2003-04 44 
			 2004-05(3) 61 
			 2005-06 71 
			 2006-07 41 
			 (1) By weapon being fired, used as a blunt instrument or in a threat (2 )The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by this. (3 )More explicit guidelines for the classification of weapons introduced on 1 April 2004 may have increased the recording of firearm offences, particularly those committed by imitation weapons.

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of internal human trafficking have been identified in the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 22 May 2008
	Data on trafficking victims are not yet recorded centrally. However, a database of trafficked victims is currently being developed by the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) to inform its work on the detection and prevention of human trafficking.

Intelligence Services: Vetting

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements there are to re-vet spouses and partners of officials in the security and intelligence services after they are initially vetted; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	In accordance with Government policy staff with access to sensitive Government information are required to be vetted at an appropriate level. In the case of the security and intelligence agencies staff are subject to Developed Vetting. This involves a range of background checks on the subject and their close associates, including spouses and partners. Vetted individuals have an obligation to draw to the attention of their management or security section any relevant change of circumstances as soon as it occurs. Each clearance is subject to regular formal review.

Organised Crime: EC Enlargement

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of organised crime gangs from  (a) Poland,  (b) Romania and  (c) Bulgaria operating in England and Wales and the volume of related criminal activity; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: No estimate has been made by the Home Office of the numbers of foreign nationals who are members of organised crime groups in the UK.

Police: Driving Offences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers  (a) were prosecuted in connection with alleged driving offences that have involved the death of civilians,  (b) were convicted of such offences and  (c) faced disciplinary actions in connection with such incidents in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information is not collected centrally. The best available information is in the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report 'Police Road Traffic Incidents: A Study of Cases Involving Serious and Fatal Injuries', which covers the period from April 2004 to September 2006. This shows that in that period five officers were prosecuted in connection with alleged offences involving a death and one in connection with an offence that involved the death of an unborn child. Four were convicted. The report sets out the action recommended in respect of other officers involved in collisions involving a fatality or serious injury, including the issuing of advice, formal disciplinary proceedings or other measures. The report is available on the IPCC website at:
	http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/index/resources/research/reports_rti.htm.

Police: Driving Offences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were convicted of  (a) offences of causing death by dangerous driving and  (b) related offences in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not routinely collected centrally. Research by the Independent Police Complaints Commission looked at police related road traffic incidents that occurred between April 2004 and September 2006 and involved serious or fatal injuries. This found no police officer had been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving in that period. Five officers were prosecuted in connection with road traffic collisions involving a fatality and one for a collision involving the death of an unborn child. Four were convicted.

Police: Driving Offences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions compensation was paid to relatives of those killed in road traffic accidents involving police officers, other than compensation paid through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally. Any payments by the police would be a matter for individual chief officers of police and their police authorities.

Police: Secondment

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving members of police forces in England and Wales were seconded to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years, broken down by  (a) length of secondment and  (b) rank of officer.

Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.
	The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has provided the following information. 32 serving members of police forces in England and Wales have been seconded to the PSNI in the last 10 years. The following table shows the breakdown of these officers by length of secondment and rank.
	
		
			   Length of secondment to PSNI  Rank 
			  Year secondment commenced  Years  Months  Days  Chief Superintendent  Superintendent  Chief Inspector  Inspector  Sergeant  Constable 
			 1998 0 2 23 __ __ __ 1 __ __ 
			   
			 1999 0 2 27 __ 1 __ __ __ __ 
			  0 3 0 __ 1 __ __ __ __ 
			   
			 2000 0 3 0 __ __ __ 1 __ __ 
			   
			 2003 1 11 26 __ 1 __ __ __ __ 
			  1 2 27 __ 1 __ __ __ __ 
			 2004 1 11 29 __ __ __ __ __ 1 
			   
			 2005 1 0 0 __ __ 2 __ __ __ 
			  1 2 19 __ __ 1 __ __ __ 
			  1 3 26 __ 1 __ __ __ __ 
			   
			 2006 0 11 13 __ __ __ __ 2 2 
			  0 1 25 1 __ __ __ __ __ 
			  0 5 20 __ __ __ __ __ 1 
			  1 0 0 __ __ __ 1 __ 4 
			  1 1 0 __ __ __ __ 3 1 
			  1 6 7 __ __ 1 __ __ __ 
			   
			 2007 1 0 0 __ __ __ __ __ 1 
			   
			 2008 0 8 0 __ __ __ __ __ 1 
			  1 0 0 __ __ __ __ __ 3 
			 Total1 5 4 3 5 14

Unfair Practices: Sales Methods

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal share sales boiler room operations were shut down in each of the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 May 2008
	From the data collected centrally we are not able to identify how many illegal share sales boiler room operations have been shut down.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many types of apprenticeship are available; and what estimate he has made of the number of people on each scheme.

David Lammy: holding answer 6 June 2008
	Over 130,000 employers are offering apprenticeship places in over 180 different types of apprenticeships across 80 industry sectors. The following table shows the number of people starting apprenticeships by framework type in England in 2006/07.
	
		
			  Apprenticeships starts by framework 2006/07 
			Number 
			 101 Agricultural Crops and Livestock 420 
			 102 Business Administration 15,520 
			 103 Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Petro-Chemical Manufacturing and Refining Industries 190 
			 104 Children's Care Learning and Development 13,210 
			 105 Electrotechnical 6,510 
			 106 Engineering 11,570 
			 107 Engineering Construction 310 
			 111 Polymer Processing and Signmaking 50 
			 112 Retail 8,140 
			 113 Metals Industry 50 
			 115 Travel and Tourism Services Leisure and Business 1,330 
			 116 Construction 20,700 
			 117 Plumbing 5,310 
			 201 Accountancy 3,710 
			 202 Aviation 500 
			 204 Bakery 40 
			 206 Transport Engineering and Maintenance 180 
			 209 Cleaning and Support Service Industry 20 
			 211 Electricity Industry 150 
			 212 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 1,200 
			 213 Property Services 240 
			 214 Emergency Fire Service Operations 30 
			 215 Furniture Industry 410 
			 216 Glass Industry 430 
			 217 Hairdressing 16,980 
			 219 Amenity Horticulture 980 
			 220 Hospitality and Catering 13,230 
			 221 Housing 10 
			 J225 Meat and Poultry Processing 240 
			 227 Printing 210 
			 228 Carry and Deliver Goods 120 
			 229 Sea Fishing 30 
			 230 Security Industry 1,080 
			 231 Active Leisure and Learning 3,790 
			 232 Communications Technologies (Telecoms) 1,560 
			 233 Trees and Timber 40 
			 234 Marine industry 160 
			 235 Automotive Industry 430 
			 236 Health and Social Care 7,380 
			 243 Environmental Conservation 30 
			 244 Floristry 130 
			 247 Equine Industry 1,140 
			 248 Insurance 40 
			 254 Land-based Service Engineering 300 
			 260 Management 1,970 
			 262 Animal Care 390 
			 263 Customer Service 15,250 
			 264 Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations 100 
			 265 Gas Industry 600 
			 267 Wholesale, Distribution, Warehousing and Storage 980 
			 276 Textiles 150 
			 278 Rail Transport Engineering 160 
			 279 Beauty Therapy 810 
			 282 Building Services Engineering Technicians 50 
			 283 Industrial Applications 1,220 
			 284 Fencing 10 
			 287 Pharmacy Technicians 60 
			 290 Community Justice 10 
			 292 IT Services and Development 1,560 
			 293 Contact Centres 750 
			 294 Electrical and Electronic Servicing 10 
			 295 Driving Goods Vehicles 1,950 
			 296 Payroll 10 
			 297 Ports Industry 10 
			 299 Farriery 100 
			 300 Rail Transport Operations  
			 301 Learning and Development (Direct Training and Support) 20 
			 303 Production Horticulture 20 
			 304 Sales and Telesales 160 
			 305 Barbering 90 
			 306 Optical Advisor 160 
			 309 Saddlery 10 
			 311 Teaching Assistants 80 
			 312 Sporting Excellence 630 
			 313 Public Services 890 
			 315 Dental Nursing 1,290 
			 316 Game and Wildlife Management 60 
			 317 Veterinary Nursing 680 
			 319 Support Services in Healthcare 80 
			 321 Design 30 
			 322 IT User 2,640 
			 323 Storage and Warehousing 800 
			 324 Traffic Office 80 
			 327 Vehicle Fitting 1,000 
			 328 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair 8,840 
			 329 Roadside Assistance and Recovery 140 
			 330 Vehicle Body and Paint Operations 1,340 
			 331 Vehicle Parts Operations 500 
			 332 Vehicle Sales 110 
			 333 Footwear and Leather 30 
			 334 Mail Services 150 
			 335 Engineering Technology 10 
			 339 Football Sporting Excellence 20 
			 340 Youth Work 20 
			 344 Fitted Interiors 20 
			 346 Retail Financial Services 220 
			 347 Gas Network Operations 10 
			  Total 184,340 
			  Note: Figures rounded to nearest 10.  Source: WBL Individualised Learner Record

Dementia: Research

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Medical Research Council plans to spend in 2008-09 on dementia research in  (a) England,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. In 2006-07, the MRC spent approximately 6.4 million on research on dementias in the UK. The MRC is currently undertaking a strategic review on neurodegeneration. Recommendations from the review may help inform future levels of funding for dementias. The MRC does not have set budgets for specific illnesses and research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The MRC welcomes applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.

Further Education Colleges

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many further education colleges have applied for degree awarding powers since 1 May 2008.

Bill Rammell: None. We are expecting a few of the larger 'mixed economy group' of further education colleges to apply for foundation degree awarding powers within the next few months. More from this group of colleges are expected to apply for foundation degree awarding powers during 2009.

Higher Education

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many colleges have applied for degree-awarding powers since 1 May 2008.

Bill Rammell: No colleges have so far applied for degree awarding powers since 1 May 2008, although we expect a number of applications to be made in due course. Our policy has always been to consider any applications on their merits and against the high standards we set in order to maintain the quality and reputation of higher education in this country.

Higher Education: Admissions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of 18 and 19 year olds from each local authority area obtained a place at university in each year from 1995 to 2007.

Bill Rammell: HEFCEs 'Young participation in Higher Education' publication includes the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by local authority area, although this only covers the years up to 2000. Participation rates based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website
	www.hefce.ac.uk/polar
	The proportion of young people from each local authority who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 is shown in the table. Figures are shown for the year in which the cohort turned 18.
	
		
			  Proportion of young people who entered higher education at age 18 or 19, by local authority 
			   Year cohort aged 18 
			  Local authority  1997  1998  1999  2000 
			 Gateshead 24 21 22 22 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 24 25 25 26 
			 North Tyneside 27 26 26 27 
			 South Tyneside 21 19 20 21 
			 Sunderland 20 18 19 19 
			 Hartlepool 20 20 20 20 
			 Middlesbrough 20 21 22 22 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 23 21 23 21 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 27 26 28 28 
			 Darlington 22 24 27 25 
			 Durham 24 23 24 22 
			 Northumberland 33 32 30 31 
			  
			 Knowsley 15 17 18 18 
			 Liverpool 20 21 22 21 
			 St. Helens 29 28 29 27 
			 Sefton 34 34 34 34 
			 Wirral 33 32 30 32 
			 Halton 20 18 19 19 
			 Bolton 30 29 29 30 
			 Bury 30 32 31 33 
			 Manchester 17 18 19 19 
			 Oldham 23 22 24 24 
			 Rochdale 25 24 25 25 
			 Salford 17 17 17 18 
			 Stockport 33 35 34 35 
			 Tameside 20 19 20 21 
			 Trafford 37 37 37 38 
			 Wigan 25 25 23 25 
			 Cheshire 38 38 37 39 
			 Warrington 29 29 30 29 
			 Lancashire 31 30 30 31 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 22 23 25 25 
			 Blackpool 19 19 20 22 
			 Cumbria 27 27 28 28 
			  
			 Barnsley 17 17 19 20 
			 Doncaster 19 20 20 20 
			 Rotherham 22 19 21 21 
			 Sheffield 24 23 25 25 
			 Bradford 24 24 23 24 
			 Calderdale 26 26 26 27 
			 Kirklees 29 28 28 28 
			 Leeds 25 26 27 27 
			 Wakefield 22 21 20 21 
			 Kingston upon Hull 12 12 11 11 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 34 31 31 32 
			 North East Lincolnshire 20 19 20 16 
			 North Lincolnshire 28 24 26 27 
			 North Yorkshire 38 35 36 37 
			 York 33 30 32 33 
			  
			 Derbyshire 27 27 26 27 
			 Derby 25 25 24 25 
			 Leicestershire 34 32 33 33 
			 Leicester 26 28 30 30 
			 Rutland 47 46 39 47 
			 Lincolnshire 29 28 27 28 
			 Nottinghamshire 27 26 27 27 
			 Nottingham 15 16 15 16 
			 Northamptonshire 27 28 28 28 
			  
			 Birmingham 24 24 25 25 
			 Solihull 36 35 36 35 
			 Coventry 27 29 26 28 
			 Warwickshire 35 32 33 33 
			 Dudley 24 25 24 24 
			 Sandwell 20 18 19 21 
			 Walsall 22 22 23 23 
			 Wolverhampton 28 25 27 28 
			 Staffordshire 28 30 31 31 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 16 16 17 17 
			 Herefordshire 31 32 33 35 
			 Worcestershire 33 32 32 32 
			 Shropshire 37 35 35 36 
			 Telford and Wrekin 22 22 24 24 
			  
			 Bedfordshire 33 33 31 33 
			 Luton 25 25 23 26 
			 Cambridgeshire 33 33 31 33 
			 Peterborough 23 25 23 23 
			 Essex 27 26 27 28 
			 Southend on Sea 26 23 24 27 
			 Thurrock 15 15 13 14 
			 Hertfordshire 37 35 37 38 
			 Norfolk 25 24 25 25 
			 Suffolk 28 29 28 29 
			  
			 City of London 52 56 53 60 
			 Greenwich 21 21 21 24 
			 Hackney 19 23 23 22 
			 Lewisham 24 23 25 27 
			 Tower Hamlets 17 21 21 24 
			 Barking and Dagenham 13 14 14 15 
			 Bexley 23 24 23 26 
			 Havering 22 20 21 23 
			 Newham 26 27 29 31 
			 Redbridge 43 41 43 48 
			 Camden 38 41 41 44 
			 Islington 24 29 31 30 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 48 58 55 60 
			 Lambeth 25 28 28 29 
			 Southwark 22 24 28 27 
			 Wandsworth 35 38 39 39 
			 Westminster 43 51 50 48 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 33 36 38 38 
			 Brent 44 45 48 48 
			 Ealing 41 43 45 46 
			 Harrow 51 51 55 54 
			 Hillingdon 31 32 32 34 
			 Hounslow 36 38 38 41 
			 Barnet 51 52 49 52 
			 Enfield 35 35 36 37 
			 Haringey 31 34 34 33 
			 Waltham Forest 29 28 30 32 
			 Bromley 37 37 38 39 
			 Croydon 33 33 34 36 
			 Kingston upon Thames 43 45 45 47 
			 Merton 36 40 39 41 
			 Richmond upon Thames 55 52 51 56 
			 Sutton 34 34 33 35 
			  
			 Buckinghamshire 42 41 43 43 
			 Milton Keynes 23 23 24 26 
			 Oxfordshire 36 34 36 35 
			 East Sussex 31 29 29 31 
			 Brighton and Hove 26 27 26 27 
			 West Sussex 34 31 31 32 
			 Hampshire 34 32 32 32 
			 Portsmouth 18 20 21 20 
			 Southampton 21 21 21 22 
			 Isle of Wight 28 30 29 26 
			 Bracknell Forest 27 27 28 29 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 43 45 43 43 
			 West Berkshire 38 33 37 38 
			 Reading 25 26 26 28 
			 Slough 28 30 32 33 
			 Wokingham 46 44 47 46 
			 Kent 30 29 30 31 
			 Medway 21 21 21 23 
			 Surrey 43 43 42 42 
			  
			 Isles of Scilly 25 30 33 24 
			 Devon 31 29 29 30 
			 Plymouth 22 23 23 22 
			 Torbay 28 25 25 26 
			 Cornwall 31 29 29 30 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 35 31 36 35 
			 Bristol 22 23 22 22 
			 North Somerset 36 32 30 32 
			 South Gloucestershire 30 26 30 30 
			 Dorset 31 30 30 32 
			 Poole 27 30 26 29 
			 Bournemouth 30 29 27 26 
			 Wiltshire 36 34 34 34 
			 Swindon 22 22 23 25 
			 Gloucestershire 36 34 33 35 
			 Somerset 32 31 30 31 
			  
			 England 29 29 29 30 
			  Source:  Young Participation in Higher Education, published by HEFCE  http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_03/

Higher Education: Admissions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of students who had previously studied for  (a) higher national diplomas and  (b) foundation degrees went on to study for honours degrees in each year since 1997-98.

Bill Rammell: The available information on Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifiers and Foundation Degree (FD) qualifiers who went on to study a first degree in the following academic year only is shown in the tables. The figures were derived from the destinations surveys, which collect information about the destinations of qualifiers six months after qualification. Figures for 2006/07 will be available next month.
	The available information is limited to qualifiers who went on to study for a first degree in the year immediately following qualification: it does not cover those who chose to progress to a first degree at a later stage.
	For a number of reasons, it is difficult to draw reliable conclusions about the trends in the numbers of FD qualifiers who went on to study for a first degree in the following academic year, compared to students who completed HNDs. FDs were only introduced in 2001/02 and until 2004/05 there were relatively low numbers of qualifiers, which makes the figures inherently more volatile. It is also important to note that FD qualifiers tend to be older than HND qualifiers. Older qualifiers are less likely to go on to study for a first degree in the year immediately following qualification, because they are often already employed and tend to have other financial and domestic commitments. They may therefore be more likely to proceed to further study at a later date.
	In addition, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) reported in their January 2007/03 (web only) report, Foundation Degrees Key Statistics 200142 to 2006-07, that some students on FDs who proceed to further study are reported as having qualified with an honours degree without having been reported as obtaining a FD degree, which has the effect of reducing the number of FD qualifiers who are recorded as having gone on to study for a first degree.
	
		
			  Number of UK Domiciled HND qualifiers and the number of those who went on to Study for a First Degree in the following academic yearUK Higher Education Institutions: Academic years 1997/98 to 2005/06 
			Of which are studying for a First Degree in the following academic year( 1) 
			  Academic year in which qualification obtained  HND Qualifiers of known first destination  Number  Percentage 
			 1997/98 11,670 6,690 57.3 
			 1998/99 11,135 6,600 59.3 
			 1999/2000 9,410 5,560 59.1 
			 2000/01 9,500 5,610 59.1 
			 2001/02 9,500 5,745 60.5 
			 2002/03 9,660 5,545 57.4 
			 2003/04 7,225 4,030 55.8 
			 2004/05 6,050 3,365 55.6 
			 2005/06 4,935 2,760 55.9 
			 (1) Covers students who are participating in (a) work and further study and (b) further study only, based on their situation six months after obtaining their qualification. Not all students provide information of their destination, for instance; the response rate to the questionnaire from HMD qualifiers was 66 per cent. for the 2004/05 academic year.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)First Destinations Supplement (FDS) 1997/98 to 2001/02 and the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE) 2002/03 to 2005/06. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of UK Domiciled foundation degree qualifiers and the number of those who went on to study for a First Degree in the following academic yearUK Higher Education Institutions: Academic years 1997/98 to 2005/06 
			Of which are studying for a First Degree in the following academic year( 1) 
			  Academic year in which qualification obtained  Foundation Degree qualifiers of known first destination  Number  Percentage 
			 1997/98 (2) (2) (2) 
			 1998/99 (2) (2) (2) 
			 1999/00 (2) (2) (2) 
			 2000/01 (2) (2) (2) 
			 2001/02 (2) (2) (2) 
			 2002/03 770 450 58.3 
			 2003/04 1,980 1,010 51.2 
			 2004/05 4,070 2,140 52.6 
			 2005/06 6,330 3,530 55.8 
			 (1) Covers students who are participating in (a) work and further study and (b) further study only, based on their situation six months after obtaining their qualification. Not all students provide information of their destination, for instance, the response rate to the questionnaire from Foundation Degree qualifiers was 70 per cent. for the 2004/05 academic year. (2) Foundation degrees were introduced in 2001/02 and usually take two years to complete. As such, figures for first degree students with a prior foundation degree qualification are only available from 2002/03.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)First Destinations Supplement (FDS) 1997/98 to 2001/02 and the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE) 2002/03 to 2005/06

Higher Education: Admissions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of state school leavers entered Russell Group universities in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007;
	(2)  how many UK-domiciled students at English Russell Group universities were from state schools in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007.

Bill Rammell: Information on the percentage of state school leavers entering Russell group universities in 1997 and 2007 is not held centrally.
	The figures in table 1 show the proportion of young full-time first degree entrants to English Russell group HEIs, who had previously attended state schools or colleges, along with the benchmarks for each institution.
	Information in the table is taken from table T1a of the Performance Indicators in Higher Education. Figures for the 1997/98 academic year were published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), and figures for the 2006/07 academic year were published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
	For each institution, the performance indicator is shown against a benchmark. This is a sector average which is adjusted for each institution to take into account the following factors: subject of study, qualifications on entry and age on entry. The benchmarks can be used to show how a university is performing compared to the sector as a whole, and also help to determine whether a meaningful comparison can be drawn between two or more universities. The benchmarks are not targets.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion of UK-domiciled young full-time first degree entrants to English Russell group institutions who had previously attended state schools or colleges, academic years 1997/98 and 2006/07 
			   1997/98  2006/07 
			  English Russell group institutions  Percentage  Benchmark  Percentage  Benchmark 
			 The University of Birmingham 69.9 75.0 78.1 81.2 
			 The University of Bristol 55.0 71.4 63.1 78.4 
			 The University of Cambridge 51.7 62.8 57.6 77.4 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 53.5 71.2 62.0 78.9 
			 King's College London 63.4 76.1 71.3 79.6 
			 The University of Leeds 70.0 75.7 73.3 82.0 
			 The University of Liverpool 80.7 77.3 84.8 82.1 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science 56.8 70.1 65.9 77.4 
			 The University of Manchester 70.3 75.6 77.2 80.6 
			 The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 66.2 76.2 70.0 81.1 
			 The University of Nottingham 68.1 72.8 67.4 79.4 
			 The University of Oxford 46.8 65.4 53.0 76.7 
			 The University of Sheffield 80.4 74.1 85.3 80.1 
			 The University of Southampton 74.5 78.5 83.2 82.3 
			 University College London 57.8 73.7 66.6 78.4 
			 The University of Warwick 77.1 74.1 76.4 79.5 
			  Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HEFCE and HESA.

Manufacturing Industries: Training

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent steps the Government has taken to increase skills levels in manufacturing and technology industries.

David Lammy: Manufacturing and technology industries are important drivers of growth in the UK economy. Ensuring employers have a skilled work force, capable of unlocking growth and innovation is critical to supporting these industries to succeed.
	The Government are currently reviewing their Manufacturing Strategy, and as part of this process will look at how they can help British industry take advantage of the opportunities presented by globalisation and climate change. Exploring the future skills needs of manufacturing is a key element of the review.
	Working with employers, the Government have introduced National Skills Academies, centres of excellence in the development of training programmes for their sector. A National Skills Academy for Manufacturing was launched in January 2007 and further academies covering the Process, Nuclear and Food and Drink Manufacturing sectors have been announced. We are also expanding and enhancing the Apprenticeship programme to ensure more employers and employees can benefit from high-quality work-based training.
	In recognition of the need to go further in meeting the strategic skills needs of the economy, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills announced on 28 May that the Government will earmark 65 million of funding from the Train to Gain budget to help employers in the science, engineering and manufacturing technologies sector to ensure that their employees have the skills they need to drive future productivity and competitiveness.

Measurement: Wines

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will bring forward legislation to require all wine-selling on-trade establishments to provide the option of 125ml measure glasses to customers in addition to 175ml glasses; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We have no plans to bring forward such legislation.
	The aim of regulation in this area is to ensure consumers have adequate information on quantity and protection against short measure, without imposing any unnecessary burdens on business.
	Under weights and measures legislation wine sold by the glass is required to be sold in specified quantities of 125 ml, 175 ml or a multiple of either to allow consumers to easily distinguish between the sizes, allowing them to make cost and value comparisons more easily.

Neurology: Research

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department is funding research into brain machine interfacing; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: In the area of brain-computer interfaces, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has awarded four grants totalling 816,347, three of which are ongoing and one completed.

Students: Grants

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how much was spent on fee grants for part-time undergraduate students in England in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what expenditure on course grants for part-time undergraduate students in England was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: In financial year 2006-07, in England, part-time undergraduate students received 26 million in fee grants and 15 million in course grants.

Students: Plagiarism

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the findings of the Academic Misconduct Benchmarking Research Project.

Bill Rammell: Student plagiarism, which is the subject of the Academic Misconduct Benchmarking Research project (AMBeR) is a serious matter, but one for which higher education institutions, as autonomous organisations, are responsible for addressing. Institutions are supported by the Higher Education Academy and the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) who recently jointly produced a report of the second phase of the AMBeR project. Although the Government have made no formal assessment I understand the report's findings are that there are clusters of consistency in the sector's approach to applying penalties for plagiarism but that improved recording procedures could engender a more complete and transparent picture of activity across the sector. Positively, the incidence level of formally recorded cases reported in the survey demonstrates a lower level of plagiarism than that reported by most surveys. It also suggests that the vast majority of offences are first offences which indicates that current punitive measures are successfully reducing repeat offenders.

Sustainable Development: Education

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on the  (a) skills required to enable the UK to benefit from innovations in sustainable development technologies and  (b) the qualifications which demonstrate such skills;
	(2)  what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the extent to which course in subjects related to sustainable development in further and higher education institutions equip students with the skills required to facilitate the take-up of sustainable development technologies in the economy.

Bill Rammell: Because the environmental future is not easily predicted, we need to create potential that might enable future industries and industry shapes that cannot be predicted today. On 1 May 2008, the Government published Building a low carbon economy: unlocking innovation and skills. This sets out how Government will make the UK one of the best locations in the world to develop and introduce low carbon and resource efficient products, processes, services and business models.
	DIUS Ministers have met ministerial colleagues on a number of occasions during which the skills required for the UK to benefit from innovations in sustainable development technologies have been discussed.
	DIUS officials are working proactively with employers, sector skills councils, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, and expert bodies representing the environmental industries, as well as other Government Departments (DEFRA and BERR) to develop our evidence and understanding of the skills implications of the transition to a low carbon, resource efficient and sustainable economy and to ensure that these, at the heart of our skills system, capture a strategic skills proposition for a sustainable future.
	An assessment of the qualifications required to support such skills will be part of this work and of the ongoing vocational qualifications reform programme. The programme will mean that employers, through their sector skills councils, will have a key role in determining which qualifications are needed to meet the skills needs of their industry.

Train to Gain Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many people  (a) are studying for and  (b) have completed a course of study under train to gain in (i) each region of England and (ii) local authority, broken down by level of qualification studied for;
	(2)  how many people  (a) started and  (b) completed the train to gain programme in (i) each region and (ii) each local authority area since its inception; and what targets for numbers of people participating in the programme there are for each (A) region and (B) local authority.

David Lammy: Since it was rolled out nationally from April 2006, Train to Gain has grown quickly. It has now engaged over 80,000 employers, supported 419,320 employees to begin learning programmes, and delivered 167,500 full level 2 and 21,800 Skills for Life achievements. Recent evaluations of the service show that both employer and employee satisfaction with their experience of Train to Gain is high.
	A breakdown of learner starts and achievements by region (and the LSC's National Employer Service, which works with employers with over 5,000 employees) is set out in Tables 1 and 2. Information on Train to Gain performance by local authority area is not held centrally.
	In the demand-led skills system that the Government have created, the geographical distribution of Train to Gain learners is driven by employer demand. I receive regular reports on Train to Gain performance at regional level, and have recently completed a series of performance review meetings with each of the LSC regions. All LSC regions are developing plans to deliver their contribution to the overall planned growth in the service over the period to 2010-11.
	
		
			  Table 1: Train to Gain Learner Starts (April 2006 to March 2008) 
			  LSC Region  Full Level 2  Skills for Life  Level 3 
			 East Midlands 33,420 3,220 2,270 
			 East of England 29,400 1,880 2,200 
			 Greater London 35,490 6,260 6,580 
			 North East 24,550 2,540 2,130 
			 North West 53,560 5,210 5,330 
			 South East 33,740 4,460 3,650 
			 South West 27,420 1,100 2,510 
			 West Midlands 44,790 5,490 4,790 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 32,090 4,220 1,720 
			 National Employer Service 28,890 6,710 3,700 
			 Total 343,350 41,090 34,880 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Train to Gain Learner Achievements (April 200 6  to March 2008) 
			  LSC Region  Full Level 2  Skills for Life  Level 3 
			 East Midlands 13,895 1,397 300 
			 East of England 12,645 691 290 
			 Greater London 10,627 2,568 780 
			 North East 13,492 1,721 560 
			 North West 25,629 2,384 1,040 
			 South East 13,426 1,862 430 
			 South West 11,577 564 330 
			 West Midlands 21,618 3,414 770 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 14,898 2,130 270 
			 National Employer Service 29,743 5,109 3,140 
			 Total 167,550 21,840 7,910

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

African Children's Educational Trust

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department has provided to the African Children's Educational Trust for each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided the following funding to the African Children's Educational Trust since 2000:
	
		
			   Total () 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 127,080.00 
			 2005 510,219.00 
			 2006 579,238.00 
			 2007 260,668.00 
			 2008 (as of 6 June 2008) 205,923.00 
			 Total 1,683,128.00 
		
	
	In addition to the aforementioned figures, DFID provided 96,000 in 2006 for the African Children's Educational Trust's research study on Alternative Basic Education in countries emerging from conflict. The trust has also received some DFID funding for the administration of the DFID Scholarships and Training Scheme for Southern Sudan (in partnership with the British Council) between 2005-08.

Burma: Internally Displaced Persons

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of internally displaced persons in eastern Burma in need of humanitarian assistance in areas where the Burmese government prohibits access by foreign aid agencies.

Douglas Alexander: It is estimated that about 100,000 internally displaced people are living in areas of eastern Burma which are not accessible to agencies working inside Burma. Others are living in areas where access by international staff is very difficult, but they can be reached by Burmese staff and local partners of foreign aid agencies.

Burma: Overseas Aid

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what cross-border projects for aid to Burma his Department is funding.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) recently agreed an allocation of 1 million for the Thailand Burma Border Consortium for 2008-09. This money may be used for cross-border assistance to internally displaced people in Burma as well as to support Burmese refugees in Thailand.
	DFID also recently agreed funding of 102,780 for the Shan Women's Action Network for its work to improve health, education, livelihoods and women's rights among displaced Shan people in camps in Burma and Thailand.
	DFID is also providing 1.35 million over four years for cross-border health care work on the Burma/China border undertaken by Health Unlimited.

Burma: Overseas Aid

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been allocated to cross-border aid to the poor and internally displaced in Karen state, Burma.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development's (DFID) funding for the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) may be used for cross-border assistance to internally displaced people in Karen and other states in eastern Burma, as well as for support to Burmese refugees in Thailand. DFID recently agreed an allocation to TBBC of 1 million for 2008-09. In 2007, TBBC spent about 11 per cent. of its budget on cross-border assistance.
	Poor and internally displaced people in Karen State are also assisted through programmes inside Burma which are supported by DFID. These include the Three Diseases Fund, the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Initiative, International Development Enterprises, Save the Children, and local Burmese organisations.

Burma: Storms

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of persons affected by Cyclone Nargis in Burma who had received humanitarian assistance as at 1 June 2008.

Douglas Alexander: At 1 June the UN estimated that one million of the 2.4 million people affected by Cyclone Nargis had received some humanitarian assistance; on 5 June the figure was revised to 1.3 million people. However, some of the people included in this figure have only received support on a one-off basis, so they will require further relief aid.

Burma: Storms

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received of discrimination against ethnic Karen people in the distribution of aid in the Irrawaddy delta.

Douglas Alexander: We recognise that concerns have been expressed over possible discrimination against ethnic Karen in the distribution of aid in the Irrawaddy delta. We have, however, received no substantiated reports that this has taken place. Assistance provided by the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) is distributed according to the principles of impartiality and need, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Overseas Aid

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department gave to the Democratic Republic of Congo in each year since 1997.

Gillian Merron: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID) bilateral assistance and imputed multilateral assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1997 are laid out in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table 1: Total DFID bilateral expenditure 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   Democratic Republic of Congo (000) 
			 1997-98 6,911 
			 1998-99 552 
			 1999-2000 37,005 
			 2000-01 3,096 
			 2001-02 5,558 
			 2002-03 12,859 
			 2003-04 17,173 
			 2004-05 29,284 
			 2005-06 58,832 
			 2006-07 75,251 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Imputed DFID share of multilateral official development assistance (ODA) 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   Democratic Republic of Congo (000) 
			 1997-98 4,259 
			 1998-99 363 
			 1999-2000 166 
			 2000-01 3,305 
			 2001-02 5,808 
			 2002-03 54,472 
			 2003-04 29,040 
			 2004-05 26,047 
			 2005-06 38,275 
			 2006-07 26,570

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what proportion of its staff his Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Gillian Merron: The proportion of staff in the Department for International Development benefiting from vocational training in the last three years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Sub-departments and overseas offices within DFID are responsible for arranging and financing staff training. Information on the numbers of staff benefiting from different types of training is not held centrally.

Developing Countries: Education

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to advance towards the goal of all children having access to primary education world-wide by 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The 2008 Education for All Global Monitoring Report records that global enrolment in primary education has increased from 647 million in 1999 to 688 million in 2005 but that some 72 million primary aged children worldwide (41 million girls) are still not enrolled in school. The UK Government are providing 8.5 billion over a 10-year period to 2015 in support of education in developing countries. The bulk of this support will help the poorest countries in Africa and Asia to develop and implement ambitious education sector plans to achieve the millennium development goal of universal primary education by 2015. The UK and France have agreed to each help support eight million children in school in Africa by the time of the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa.
	In addition to the UK's bilateral and multilateral support to education, the Government are actively engaged in galvanising international political action in support of Education for All particularly through the G8, which last year reaffirmed its commitment that no country committed to Education for All will be thwarted in their efforts through lack of resources. We continue to urge other donors to meet their promises on education. We are also working with the United Nations and other donors to accelerate action in achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs), following last year's Call to Action by the Prime Minister and the United Nations' Secretary-General. Education is a key pillar of the Call to Action. We are working towards a plan for accelerated action on all the MDGs to be agreed at the United Nations hosted international conference, in New York, on 25 September.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what allocation of funding his Department has made to support implementation of the Government's strategy for tackling HIV in the developing world in the next three years;
	(2)  what progress has been made on the UK's commitment to universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment by 2010.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government have committed 6 billion to strengthening health systems and services over seven years to 2015 in the updated AIDS strategy Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world. The Government also committed to spend 200 million on social protection over three years to support the most vulnerable households, including orphans and vulnerable children. The UK will also increase by at least 50 per cent. its funding for research and development of AIDS vaccines and microbicides between 2008-13.
	In addition to these recent commitments, the UK Government have made long-term commitments of 1 billion (2007-15) to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a 20-year commitment to the international drugs purchase facility UNITAID (2006-26), a 10-year commitment to the Medicines Transparency Alliance (2008-18), and 8.5 billion for education over 10 years to 2015.
	A copy of the updated strategy and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	UNAIDS will assess progress against the interim universal access targets (milestones), set by countries during 2006-07, in the final quarter of 2008. Data prepared for the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS, 10-11 June, will inform this process.

Malawi: Overseas Aid

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department gave to Malawi in each year since 1997.

Gillian Merron: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID) bilateral assistance and imputed multilateral assistance to Malawi since 1997 are laid out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Total DFID bilateral expenditure 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   Malawi (000) 
			 1997-98 25,642 
			 1998-99 47,195 
			 1999-2000 46,408 
			 2000-01 54,648 
			 2001-02 45,485 
			 2002-03 49,065 
			 2003-04 54,437 
			 2004-05 56,282 
			 2005-06 68,588 
			 2006-07 63,309 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Imputed DFID share of multilateral official development assistance (ODA) 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   Malawi (000) 
			 1997-98 5,806 
			 1998-99 25,819 
			 1999-2000 12,817 
			 2000-01 9,445 
			 2001-02 5,510 
			 2002-03 8,336 
			 2003-04 5,217 
			 2004-05 8,380 
			 2005-06 20,810 
			 2006-07 30,758

Sudan: Human Rights

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Abyei.

Gillian Merron: The humanitarian situation in Abyei is stable, and the UN has reported that there are sufficient resources to cover current needs. The Department for International Development (DFID) is liaising closely with the UN, which is co-ordinating the aid effort, and NGOs active in the region to ensure that the response is effective and appropriately resourced.
	The international community moved quickly to provide assistance to residents fleeing the fighting. It is basing its response on estimates of 50,000 displaced southwards and a further 40,000 in war-affected communities. Less than 2,000 moved north. By 30 May, the World Food Programme had distributed 234 metric tons of food to over 28,000 people. The initial round of emergency non-food item distributions was completed on 5 June 2008. NGOs and UN agencies are providing health care and water and sanitation services.
	The UN has made clear that additional funding from donors is not required at present. Existing stocks were sufficient to cover the initial response, and a proposal is being jointly developed for the UN's Central Emergency Relief Fund for further work. DFID will continue to liaise closely with the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs and others to monitor the need for further support.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what level and type of aid assistance his Department is providing to Sudan in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) has a bilateral framework of 105 million for Sudan in 2008-09. Around 40 million of this will be spent on humanitarian aid, and 65 million on recovery and development support. 70 million will be channelled through pooled funds managed by the World Bank or the UN. Funds will not be directed through the Government of Sudan.
	 Humanitarian
	We have provisionally allocated 30 million to the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) 2009 allocation. The CHF is a pooled fund allowing the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator to allocate funds to priority humanitarian needs in Sudan. We are also providing 10 million through NGO partners to address humanitarian needs in Darfur.
	 Recovery and development
	As part of our ongoing commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), we are planning to provide 20 million to the National and Southern Multi-Donor Trust Funds. These fund priorities set out by the Joint Assessment Mission which followed the signing of the CPA in 2005. We are also providing up to 7 million to support elections, which are scheduled to take place in 2009; and 9 million through the Basic Services Fund, which enables the Government of South Sudan to coordinate NGOs to provide basic services such as healthcare and education to southern Sudan. Other funding will go towards core support for UN Development Programme's work on governance and the rule of law; new UN-administered funds for community-level peace building in Darfur and recovery in the South; and work on the environment.

Work Experience

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many 14 to 16 year old students undertook a period of work experience in his Department in each of the last four years; and whether a programme exists to encourage the participation of young people from a variety of areas and social backgrounds.

Gillian Merron: In the last four years the Department for International Development (DFID) has offered work experience opportunities in its London and East Kilbride offices through co-ordinated programmes involving local authorities and local schools. The numbers in each year were:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004 20 
			 2005 21 
			 2006 19 
			 2007 19 
		
	
	The scheme provides for young people from local London boroughs and the South Lanarkshire region with the aim of providing opportunities for young people from different areas and social backgrounds.

JUSTICE

Victims of Crime

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the rights of the victims of crime and their families to take part in court proceedings.

Maria Eagle: In April 2008 the Government concluded the Victims Advocates Pilot Scheme. The pilots ran in five Crown courts and tested mechanisms to improve support and give a voice in court to relatives in murder and manslaughter cases. An evaluation report outlining the findings from these pilots is due to be published this summer (2008).
	The Government have also introduced intermediaries to ensure witnesses with communication difficulties are supported to give best evidence. This followed the independent evaluation of the pathfinder phase of intermediary project which indicated that around half of trials would not have got to court without an intermediary.

Voting Rights: Prisoners

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to extend voting rights for prisoners in England and Wales.

Bridget Prentice: The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Hirst  v . United Kingdom requires the Government to reconsider its policy of a blanket ban on the voting rights of convicted prisoners.
	In response to this we undertook a first stage consultation which concluded in March 2007. However, since that point, the context for the debate about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and in particular the exercise of the franchise, in the United Kingdom has changed significantly following the launch of the Governance of Britain Green Paper and publication of the Goldsmith review.
	We consider it essential that any changes to the law to extend the franchise to those held in custody are considered in the context of the wider development of policy on the franchise and the rights that attach to British citizenship.

Sentencing: Knife Crime

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the adequacy of sentencing options for those convicted of knife crime; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Government are satisfied that the courts have a comprehensive range of sentences available in relation to knife crime. We have doubled the maximum sentence for possession from two to four years, and where a knife is used, more serious offences are charged, some of which can attract life imprisonment.
	The courts take these matters very seriously. Last month, Sir Igor Judge, Head of Criminal Justice in the Court of Appeal, in the judgment of R  v. Povey and others, said that
	Even if the offender does no more than carry the weapon ... when considering the seriousness of the offence courts should bear in mind the harm which the weapon might foreseeably have caused. So the message is stark. This is a serious offence and it should be treated with the seriousness it deserves.

Prison Security

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to improve prison security to reduce the supply of illegal drugs and mobile telephones to prisoners.

David Hanson: A range of measures are in place to prevent illegal drugs, mobile phones and other contraband from entering prisons. The National Offender Management Service is working closely with partner agencies to develop and trial new technologies and procedures.

Prison Work

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours of unpaid work requirements were completed by prisoners in 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Under Prison Rule 31 prisoners are required to work. It is Prison Service policy that all prisoners who participate in purposeful activity are paid. The average purposeful activity per prisoner per week for 2007-08 was 25.3 hours.

Prison Work

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with business representatives on the expansion of prison work programmes.

David Hanson: Since the launch of the Reducing Re-offending Corporate Alliance we have established links with many employers and, as was noted in the Ministry of Justice's Prison Policy update published in January, we want to expand and further develop these links. A ministerial led forum with the private, public and third sectors, was held in May to discuss how we can further work together and we intend to hold another such event in autumn.

Early Release Schemes

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were released under early release schemes in May 2008.

David Hanson: The latest available information relates to April, when there were about 2,600 releases on end of custody licence, 950 releases under home detention curfew and 50 prisoners removed from the country under the early removal scheme. About 100 prisoners were released on parole.

Electoral Fraud

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on postal vote fraud; and what response he has made to them.

Bridget Prentice: Since 1 January 2008, 10 letters have been received from members of Parliament and four parliamentary questions asked in relation to postal fraud. We have also received a copy of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Report entitled The Purity of Elections in the UK. Our response to these representations has been to confirm how seriously the Government take the integrity of the electoral process, including postal voting.
	It is clear that postal voting has proved popular with the electorate and has helped to boost turnout at elections. We have recognised the need to balance accessibility with security, and have put in place a range of measures to safeguard the security of postal voting. This has included the introduction of a system of personal identifiers for postal voters to ensure postal votes counted at an election are valid.
	We are, however, not complacent on this issue and will consider what further action may be taken to ensure postal voting is secure.

Prison Welfare

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to prevent suicide and self-harm by people in custody.

Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Service published a revised prisoner suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy in October 2007.
	This builds on several years of learning from the experiences of prisoners, staff, investigators, inspectors and others, and encompasses a wide spectrum of prison and Department of Health work and addresses issues such as mental health, drugs, resettlement, leadership and training.

Single Judge Model

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what reports he has received on the operation of the single judge model at the North Liverpool Community Justice Centre.

Maria Eagle: The qualitative evaluation of the North Liverpool Community Justice Centre published in October 2007 found strong judicial case management has improved efficient court operation.
	In addition to the project at North Liverpool, and the Community Justice Initiative at Salford, community justice has now been extended to eleven further areas around the country. The problem solving approach with judicial continuity in case handling has great potential to tackle the causes of crime and reduce re-offending by those subject to its rigours.

Electoral Register

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to bring forward proposals for a system of individual voter registration.

Bridget Prentice: We are already committed to the principle of individual registration. This will be far-reaching reform, and it will be undertaken with great careboth to make sure a new system is robust, and to ensure that it properly tackles the problem of under-registration in Great Britain.

Bail Accommodation and Support Service: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what processes are in place to ensure that Clearsprings Ltd adhere to their contractual obligations on consultation on bail accommodation in Peterborough; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what monitoring has taken place in the last 12 months of the efficacy of consultation processes undertaken with  (a) Peterborough City Council,  (b) local residents and  (c) other agencies by Clearsprings in respect of bail accommodation in Peterborough; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent representations he has received on the operation of the Clearsprings contract for bail accommodation in the Peterborough area; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The East of England regional offender manager holds monthly management meetings with ClearSprings' regional manager which include discussions on the monitoring of property, consultation with the police, probation and local authority. Consultation is also monitored at fortnightly national contract review meetings.
	I have met with ClearSprings management to discuss the operation of the contract nationally.
	ClearSprings is contractually obliged to consult the police, local authority and probation about locations. There is not a consultation process with local residents because the properties are the private rented homes of those living there and there is no change of use.
	I have only received representation on the service in Peterborough from the hon. Member.

Coroners: Armed Forces

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to include in future quarterly ministerial statements on coroners' inquests relating to military personnel  (a) whether a Board of Inquiry convened for each case,  (b) the report date of each Board of Inquiry,  (c) cause of death,  (d) critical findings from completed inquests and  (e) steps taken in response.

Bridget Prentice: The Minister for the Armed Forces and I are considering whether future written ministerial statements should include Board of Inquiry information, and will write to the hon. Member to give our response. We will place a copy of our letter in the Libraries of the Houses. Under rule 43 of the Coroners Rules 1983 a coroner may make a report at the end of an inquest to a person or organisation where the coroner considers that action should be taken to prevent future deaths. The Ministry of Defence takes notice of all critical findings made by coroners and takes appropriate action. I am, however, proposing to amend rule 43 with effect from July to improve the system for disseminating coroners' reports and recommendations. For the first time organisations including Government Departments will be required to send a written response to the coroner detailing what action they propose to take. In turn, the coroner will send a copy of both the report and response to me, and I will provide a regular summary of action taken to Parliament. It may not be appropriate to include details of the cause of death given the sensitive and personal nature of this information.

Court Proceedings: Separation

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many court proceedings under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 were undertaken in relation to a dispute arising from separating cohabiting couples in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07;
	(2)  how many court proceedings under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 were undertaken in relation to a dispute arising from separating cohabiting couples in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.

Bridget Prentice: Information on court proceedings issued under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 is not held centrally, because court databases do not identify proceedings issued in relation to this particular legislation. This information could therefore only be compiled at disproportionate cost.
	Information on proceedings issued under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 is available on a calendar year rather than financial year basis. There were 1,288 private law applications made under this Schedule during 2005, 1,221 during 2006 and a provisional total of 1,258 during 2007.
	These figures cover all family courts in England and Wales and count the number of children on whose behalf applications were made, rather than the number of court cases. Applications can be made by separating couples who had previously cohabited, by parents who had never lived together and, in certain unusual circumstances, by divorced parents. However, it is not possible to identify these groups separately within the available data.

Courts: Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) Lord Justices,  (b) High Court judges,  (c) recorders,  (d) Masters and registrars,  (e) district judges and  (f) deputy district judges there were in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) sex, (ii) ethnicity and (iii) disability; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The following tables provide available information relating to gender and ethnicity. The figures for masters and registrars are included within those for district judges given they are of the same judicial band and limited in number. Extensive historic data on disability have not been collected. In 2006-07 judges were invited to provide this information with the following result:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Senior Circuit Judges 2 
			 Circuit Judges 13 
			 District Judges (1)8 
			 Recorders 9 
			 Deputy District Judges 3 
			 Deputy District Judges (Magistrates Courts) 3 
			 Member of the Appeals Service 1 
			 (1) Including one district judge (Principal Registry of the Family Division). (2) Including one deputy district judge (Principal Registry of the Family Division). 
		
	
	In total 39 judges declared a disability in this exercise. Plans are under way to record the disabilities declared by newly appointed Judges in the future.
	
		
			  Diversity Breakdown from 2003-07 
			   2003 
			Male  Female  Of ethnic minority origin 
			  Post  Total  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary 11 11 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Heads of Division (excluding LC) 4 3 75.00 1 25.00 0 0.00 
			 Lord Justices of Appeal 35 32 91.43 3 8.60 0 0.00 
			 High Court Judges 106 100 94.34 6 5.70 0 0.00 
			 Circuit Judges (including TCC) 620 562 90.65 58 9.40 4 0.60 
			 Recorders 1389 1213 87.33 176 12.70 41 3.00 
			 District Judges (including Family Division) 426 347 81.46 79 18.50 10 2.30 
			 Deputy District Judges (including Family Division) 787 626 79.54 161 20.50 12 1.50 
			 District Judges (MC) 104 82 78.85 22 21 .20 3 2.90 
			 Deputy District Judges (MC) 174 134 77.01 40 23.00 12 6.90 
			 Total 3656 3110 85.07 546 14.90 82 2.20 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 
			Male  Female  Of ethnic minority origin 
			  Post  Total  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary 12 11 91.67 1 8.30 0 0.00 
			 Heads of Division (excluding LC) 4 3 75.00 1 25.00 0 0.00 
			 Lord Justices of Appeal 37 35 94.59 2 5.40 0 0.00 
			 High Court Judges 105 97 92.38 8 7.60 0 0.00 
			 Circuit Judges (including TCC) 610 552 90.49 58 9.50 4 0.70 
			 Recorders 1396 1211 86.75 185 13.30 45 3.20 
			 District Judges (including Family Division) 433 351 81.06 82 18.90 11 2.50 
			 Deputy District Judges (including Family Division) 801 618 77.15 183 22.80 17 2.10 
			 District Judges (NIC) 104 84 80.77 20 19.20 3 2.90 
			 Deputy District Judges (MC) 173 133 76.88 40 23.10 12 6.90 
			 Total 3675 3095 84.22 580 15.80 92 2.50 
		
	
	
		
			  2005 
			Male  Female  Of ethnic minority origin 
			  Post  Total  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary 12 11 91.67 1 8.30 0 0.00 
			 Heads of Division (excluding LC) 4 3 75.00 1 25.00 0 0.00 
			 Lord Justices of Appeal 37 35 94.59 2 5.40 0 0.00 
			 High Court Judges 107 97 90.65 10 9.30 1 0.90 
			 Circuit Judges (including TCC) 641 574 89.55 67 10.50 5 0.80 
			 Recorders 1442 1237 85.78 205 14.20 56 3.90 
			 District Judges (including Family Division) 430 346 80.47 84 19.50 11 2.60 
			 Deputy District Judges (including Family Division) 826 619 74.94 207 25.10 21 2.50 
			 District Judges (MC) 128 101 78.91 27 21.10 5 3.90 
			 Deputy District Judges (MC) 167 128 76.65 39 23.40 10 6.00 
			 Total 3794 3151 83.05 643 16.90 109 2.90 
		
	
	
		
			  2006 
			Male  Female  Of ethnic minority origin 
			  Post  Total  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary 12 11 91.67 1 8.30 0 0.00 
			 Heads of Division (excluding LC) 5 5 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Lord Justices of Appeal 37 34 91.89 3 8.10 0 0.00 
			 High Court Judges 107 96 89.72 11 10.20 1 0.90 
			 Circuit Judges (including TCC) 631 560 88.75 71 11.30 10 1.60 
			 Recorders 1401 1202 85.80 199 14.20 67 4.80 
			 District Judges (including Family Division) 449 350 77.95 99 22.00 14 3.10 
			 Deputy District Judges (including Family Division) 840 611 72.74 229 27.30 36 4.30 
			 District Judges (MC) 134 103 76.87 31 23.10 5 3.70 
			 Deputy District Judges (MC) 158 124 78.48 34 21.50 9 5.70 
			 Total 3774 3096 82.03% 678 18.00% 142 3.80% 
		
	
	continued
	
		
			  2007 
			Male  Female  Of ethnic minority origin 
			  Post  Total  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary 12 11 91.67 1 8.30 0 0.00 
			 Heads of Division (excluding LC) 4 4 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Lord Justices of Appeal 37 34 91.89 3 8.10 0 0.00 
			 High Court Judges 108 98 90.74 10 9.30 1 0.90 
			 Circuit Judges (including TCC) 639 566 88.58 73 11.40 9 1.40 
			 Recorders 1206 1024 84.91 182 15.10 53 4.40 
			 District Judges (including Family Division) 450 349 77.56 101 22.40 14 3.10 
			 Deputy District Judges (including Family Division) 780 561 71.92 219 28.10 30 3.85 
			 District Judges (MC) 139 106 76.26 33 23.70 7 5.10 
			 Deputy District Judges (MC) 169 127 75.15 42 24.85 9 5.30 
			 Total 3544 2880 81.26 664 18.70 123 3.50

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007, bringing together the Department for Constitutional Affairs, Her Majesty's Courts Service and Associated Offices, the National Offender Management Service, the Prison and Probation Services, and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. The latest available figures of directly employed civil servants are available as at 31 March 2008 and are detailed in the following table for  (a) males,  (b) females,  (c) from an ethnic minority and  (d) disabled. For  (e) no heterosexual information is currently collated by any of the MOJ Agencies but there are plans to begin collating this from 2009.
	
		
			  SIP Headcount as at 31 March 2008 
			Gender   
			   SIP Headcount  Male  Female  Ethnicity  Disability 
			 MOJ total 80640 42635 38005 5763 2369 
			 Proportion as a percentage(1) 100 52.87 47.13 8.22 3.2 
			 (1) Calculated in line with Cabinet Office Guidance and Best Practise on Diversity of declared responses only

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007, bringing together the former Department for Constitutional Affairs, Her Majesty's Courts Service and associated offices, the National Offender Management Service, the Prison and Probation Services, and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. The current terms and conditions of employees within the Ministry of Justice agencies have not been harmonised and the former Department for Constitutional Affairs including Her Majesty's Courts Service and associated offices, and those within the Prison and Probation Services and National Offender Management Service and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. The latest available figures, provided from both the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and associated offices and from the public sector Prison Service, are for those employees in post on the 1( )April 2007 who received a performance related bonus for their last appraisal reporting period from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 and are detailed in the following table for  (a) males,  (b) females,  (c) from an ethnic background and  (d) disabled. For  (e) not heterosexual information is not currently collated by any of the MoJ agencies but there are plans to begin collating this from 2009.
	 Former Department  for Constitutional Affairs and associated o ffices
	The former Department of Constitutional Affairs is committed to a pay system that recognises good performance by its employees and information on the number of staff receiving a performance related bonus as part of their appraisal is provided in the following table. Performance is assessed under the common performance management system. For employees whose performance is rated as exceeded a small bonus is paid along with the annual pay increase. The information related to performance related pay and does not include information of bonuses given through the Reward and Recognition Scheme that operates alongside the performance related pay scheme.
	 Prison and Probation Services
	Information on the number of public sector Prison Service staff receiving a performance related bonus as part of their regular staff appraisal is provided in the table. The information relates only to bonuses awarded as part of the normal appraisal system and does not include bonuses awarded through the Service's Special Bonus Scheme. Prison officer grades, operational support grades and health care staff do not receive performance-related bonuses and have therefore been excluded from the figures.
	 National Offender Management Service, and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform
	The National Offender Management Service, and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform are providing information as part of the Home Office response as at the same dates. The information that they have made available cannot be broken down into just their areas and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  SIP headcount of those within the performance management system as at 1 April 2007 and performance exceeded box marks, 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 
			 Gender   
			   SIP headcount  Performance exceeded box marks  (a) Male  (b) Female  (c) Ethnicity  (d) Disability 
			 DCA 26,596 2,709 840 1,869 223 88 
			 DCA proportion (percentage)(1)  10.2 3.16 7.03 0.9 0.33 
			
			 PSBS 16,029 3,617 1,512 2,105 130 145 
			 PSPS proportion (percentage)(1)  23 9 13 0.8 6 
			 (1 )Calculated in line with Cabinet Office Guidance and Best Practise on Diversity of declared responses only.

Judges

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of senior judges were previously  (a) Masters and district judges and  (b) Queen's Counsel.

Jack Straw: 'Senior Judges' are defined in s.109(5) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 as the Heads of Division, the Lords Justices of Appeal and the puisne judges of the High Court. None of the current holders of these offices was previously a Master or a District Judge. Of the 152 current holders of these offices, all except seven (5 per cent.) were previously Queen's Counsel.

Judges: Conditions of Employment

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which stakeholders were consulted in the decision to exclude Masters and district judges from applying for certain senior appointments, including as designated civil judges.

Jack Straw: No decision has been taken to exclude Masters and district judges from applying for certain senior appointments, that is High Court and above, or as designated civil judges.
	However, in some senior circuit judge competitions in the past five years, but not those for designated civil judges, there were additional non-statutory eligibility criteria imposed to ensure business needs would be met by successful candidates. Some of these indicated an expectation that candidates would have had judicial experience of a level higher than that of Masters and district judges.

Judges: Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what factors are considered in the selection process of candidates for senior judicial appointments.

Jack Straw: The JAC applies generic qualities and abilities to define merit: intellectual capacity, personal qualities; an ability to understand and deal fairly, authority and communication skills, efficiency.
	For the most senior appointments (Lord Chief Justice and Heads of Division, and Lords Justices of Appeal), the Constitutional Reform Act (CRA) 2005 prescribes that it is for selection panels established under the Act to determine the selection procedure (CRA 2005Ss 70, 71 and 79, 80).

Judges: Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what qualifications are required of a person to be on the selection panel for senior judicial appointments.

Jack Straw: The composition of selection panels for appointments of the Lord Chief Justice, Heads of Division, and Lords Justices of Appeal is prescribed by the Constitutional Reform Act (CRA) 2005 (Ss 71 and 80).
	For all other judicial offices at the High Court and below, it is for the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to determine the selection process to be applied, including the composition of the panel (s88(1) CRA). For the two High Court appointment selection exercises, the JAC has decided that the sift and interview panels should consist of JAC Commissioners, augmented by judicial members where appropriate.

Judges: Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of the members of the selection panels for senior judicial positions have come from an ethnic minority in  (a) the last 12 months and  (b) the last 10 years.

Jack Straw: For the two High Court selection exercises run by Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) the panels comprised:
	2007-33.33 per cent. BME.
	2008-25 per cent. BME.
	Information relating to the years before the launch of the JAC, in April 2006, cannot be accessed in the time available. I will write to the hon. Member once the information has been collated and place copies in the Libraries of each House.

Judges: Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of senior judicial positions were subject to open competition in  (a) the last 12 months and  (b) the last 10 years.

Jack Straw: All High Court appointments in the past 12 months have been subject to open competition. Appointments to the Court of Appeal in the past 12 months have been made from among the judges of the High Court by a special selection panel of the Judicial Appointments Commission, chaired by the Lord Chief Justice. No Heads of Division have been appointed in the past 12 months. The process of application to apply for appointment to the High Court was introduced in 1998, although the Lord Chancellor retained the right to appoint without application if he chose to do so until the implementation of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

Judges: Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many of those who currently hold senior judicial posts have had no previous judicial experience;
	(2)  what percentage of people who hold senior judicial posts have had no previous judicial experience.

Jack Straw: All current High Court judges have had previous judicial experience either as Circuit Judges., Recorders, or deputy High Court judges, or a combination of these. All current Heads of Division and Lords Justices have previous experience of the levels of the judiciary below them.

Judges: Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people who applied for senior judicial posts in  (a) the last 12 months and  (b) the last 10 years have a record of previous judicial experience;
	(2)  what percentage of those people who have applied for senior judicial posts in  (a) the last 12 months and  (b) the last 10 years have a record of judicial experience.

Jack Straw: In the 2006-07 High Court exercise, 136 applied who had previous judicial experience. This equates to 94 per cent. Information relating to the years before the launch of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), in April 2006, cannot be accessed in the time available. I will write to my right hon. Friend once the information has been collated and place copies in the Libraries of each House.

Life Imprisonment

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice at what intervals risk assessments are carried out on each life sentenced prisoner in order to assess  (a) progress,  (b) readiness to progress to a lower category prison and  (c) other relevant factors.

David Hanson: Risk assessments on life sentenced prisoners are carried out at annual sentence planning reviews. At the annual review, the previous risk assessment is reviewed and updated. The review of risk assessment will take into account progress in prison, readiness for re-categorisation and all other relevant factors.
	At any of the annual reviews, consideration of the prisoner's risks may prompt the need for further specialist reports. Other specialist risk assessment tools may be utilised depending on the nature of the index offence and the presenting risk factors.
	At least every three years, a full set of review reports is prepared by all professionals involved in working with the offender. These reports provide an ongoing picture of the offender's development during the sentence and help to provide detailed information on the offender's progress to the Parole Board. The risk assessment is also reviewed and updated.
	Aside from the scheduled reviews, risk assessments and categorisation will be reviewed as soon as any new significant information comes to light.
	Indeterminate sentence prisoners will not be released until the Parole Board decides that the risk of harm which they present may be safely managed in the community.

Miscarriages of Justice: Victim Support

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what post-release support is provided to victims of miscarriage of justice.

Maria Eagle: In England and Wales, the Citizens Advice Miscarriages of Justice Support Service, which we fund, provides advice, guidance and support to such victims. Additionally, section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 provides, in certain specified circumstances, for payment of compensation following the quashing of some convictions.

Mortgages: Repossession Orders

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many mortgage possession orders were made in each county court in the East of England in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The following table shows the number of mortgage possession orders made in all county courts in the East of England since 2003.
	These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts, since not all the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.
	The civil procedure rules state that all claims for the repossession of land must be commenced in the district in which the land is situated. However, county courts' jurisdictions are not coterminous with the borough boundaries, and therefore any single court's repossession actions are likely to relate to homes in a number of different boroughs.
	
		
			  Number of mortgage( 1)  possession orders( 2, 3)  made in the county courts( 4)  in the east of England 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Basildon 478 612 910 1,048 1,057 
			 Bedford(5) 162 186 311 268  
			 Bury St. Edmunds(5) 113 124 191 220  
			 Cambridge 144 194 266 327 353 
			 Chelmsford 175 226 355 381 383 
			 Colchester 300 385 542 695 778 
			 Harlow(5) 139 183 258 310  
			 Hertford(5) 88 86 134 198  
			 Hitchin(5) 155 183 288 321  
			 Huntingdon(5) 105 121 153 222  
			 Ipswich 164 224 287 358 328 
			 King's Lynn(5) 152 165 273 378  
			 Lowestoft(5) 153 197 297 280  
			 Luton 340 458 718 859 818 
			 Norwich 220 251 414 490 430 
			 Peterborough 257 300 521 719 599 
			 St. Albans(5) 87 78 102 158  
			 Watford 249 258 418 516 508 
			 Southend-on-Sea 348 416 620 657 606 
			 East 3,829 4,647 7,058 8,405  
			 East and South East 8,201 10,050 15,220 17,693 17,824 
			 (1) Mortgage possession data include all types of lenders whether local authority or private. (2 )The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (3 )Includes suspended orders and orders made. (4 )Does not include the small number of possession actions entered in the High Court. (5) The rollout of the Possession Claim On-Line (PCOL) system in late 2006 has affected the availability of court-level data on mortgage possession orders. As a result it is only possible to provide court-level figures for those courts with direct on-site PCOL access for 2007. Therefore, upward adjustments have been made for the missing data at HMCS regional level, provided at the end of the table.  Source:  Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Employment

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect on prisoners seeking to contact Jobcentre Plus of the change to an exclusively telephone-based claims system; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 10 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has made of the effect on prisoners seeking to contact Jobcentre Plus of the change to an exclusively telephone-based claims system.
	No assessment has taken place specifically for prisoners with regard to the effect of the introduction of telephone based claims.
	However, in recognition of the fact that offenders have particular difficulties in returning to the labour market, Jobcentre Plus operates the Freshstart process to improve the transition from custody to work. This enables prisoners to have a New Jobseeker Interview arranged for them at their local Jobcentre Plus office, normally within 48 hours of release.
	Freshstart runs alongside the telephone based claims process, so that prisoners can continue to access the full range of Jobcentre Plus programmes and services.
	Jobcentre Plus has Employment and Benefit Surgery (EBS) Advisers working in prisons who book many of the Freshstart appointments and offer advice and signposting to other benefits, as well as help and support with job search activity, training opportunities and programmes such as New Deal and Progress2work-LinkUp.
	Although our preference is to take new claims over the telephone, customers who are unable to use the telephone still have alternative methods of contacting us available, which include:
	arranging for a third party/nominated advocate to do this on their behalf;
	an option for the customer still to have a face-to-face interview at their local Jobcentre Plus office; or where appropriate, a home visit can be arranged;
	text phone facility;
	having access to language interpreting services as and when necessary;
	use of our e-service to submit information over the internet and register an intent to claim.

Prisons: Worcestershire

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any sites in Worcestershire are under consideration as a potential location for a Titan prison; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Searches for suitable sites for Titan prisons are currently under way. The priority search areas are London and the South East, the North West and the West Midlands.

Sentencing: Standards

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library copies of guidance issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council to judges about consistency of sentencing; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The purpose of the independent Sentencing Guidelines Council is to produce sentencing guidelines which, as all courts are required to have regard to them, encourage consistency in sentencing throughout England and Wales. Whilst no guidelines have been issued specifically to address consistency, the objective of achieving it is implicit in all the council's work. The Library will now hold all definitive guidelines, which are also available on the Sentencing Guidelines Council's website:
	www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

Young Offenders: Custodial Treatment

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 25 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2379W, on young offenders: custodial treatment, how many children assessed as being at risk of  (a) self-harm,  (b) mental health problems,  (c) drug dependency and  (d) other risk factors were accommodated in (i) young offender institutions, (ii) secure training centres and (iii) secure children's homes at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The following table, based on data provided by the Youth Justice Board, shows the number of young people in custody aged between 10 and 17 who have known risk factors, as of 31 May 2008.
	Many young people in custody have more then one risk factor and may therefore be included in more than one category. There is a wide range of other possible risk factors. Two of the most important, bullying and first experience of custody, are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Secure children's home  Secure training centre  Young offender institution 
			 Self harm 56 80 378 
			 Mental health 45 53 257 
			 Drug dependency 53 68 351 
			 Bullying 12 20 71 
			 First time in custody 47 55 339 
			  Note: Data drawn from the Youth Justice Board's administrative systems

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of children attending  (a) children's centres,  (b) maintained nurseries,  (c) private, voluntary and independent nurseries and  (d) childminders are from black, minority or ethnic backgrounds.

Beverley Hughes: The estimated number and proportion of children of black or minority ethnic backgrounds attending child care settings, according to providers, is shown in Table 1. Data are taken from the 2006 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey.
	
		
			  Table 1: Children attending child care provision of black or minority ethnic origin (provider estimates) 
			   Number  Proportion (percentage) 
			 Full day care 96,100 13 
			 Full day care in children's centres 10,250 26 
			 Sessional 35,400 9 
			 Out of school clubs 53,700 13 
			 Childminders 27,500 10 
			 Nursery schools 10,800 30 
			 Primary schools with nursery and reception classes 127,600 25

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1530W, on children: day care, what steps the Government is taking to increase the number of childcare staff who are male.

Beverley Hughes: The Government are committed to increasing the diversity of the early years and child care work force, particularly increasing the proportion of men in the work force. We have tasked the Children's Workforce Development Council in taking the lead in a national recruitment campaign that will highlight roles and encourage men into the children's work force.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of funding of all childcare settings received from local authorities which was spent on training staff in each year for which records are available.

Beverley Hughes: The Department does not routinely collect this information from local authorities. 440 million funding is being made available through the outcomes, quality and inclusion strand of the Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare grant between 2008 and 2011 to improve the quality of early years provision, including raising the skills and qualifications of staff. It is up to local authorities to determine how to use this funding according to local needs and circumstances. In addition, funding of 305 million is also being made available over the same period through the Graduate Leader Fund to deliver an increase in the number of graduates leading practice in private, voluntary and independent sector full day care settings. 232 million of this is to support settings to employ the graduate leaders. This funding is to be passported onto settings who may use it to contribute to salary costs, provide continuous professional development for the graduate or to support an existing staff member in the setting to train towards becoming the graduate early years professional.

Children: Disadvantaged

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 949W, on children: disadvantaged, how much additional funding is being made available for  (a) the training materials and courses of practitioners delivering outreach services and  (b) practitioners delivering outreach services without other sources of funding.

Beverley Hughes: Pursuant to my answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 950W, we have set aside 7 million across the three financial years 2008-11 to fund the project I outlined. At this early stage we have not allocated specific amounts for the individual elements of training materials, courses and subsidised places. However, we expect the majority of the expenditure will be incurred in the later years.

Children's Centres: Disabled

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Sure Start children's centres are implementing the early support programme for young disabled children; and when that programme will be available in all Sure Start centres.

Beverley Hughes: My Department does not collect data on the number of children's centres implementing the Early Support Programme (ESP). ESP was developed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and Department of Health in partnership with a range of voluntary organisations and the central programme team has been based in the voluntary sector at the Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) since 2002. The ESP Programme Team's report in October 2007 showed that 99 local authorities were implementing Early Support, 14 authorities were starting to implement it, nine authorities had not committed to start the programme, and no assessment could be made on the remaining 28 authorities due to insufficient information.
	The Government have invested an additional 900,000 during 2008-09 to mainstream the ESP approach more widely. This funding covers continued regional consultancy to support and train LAs to implement and embed ESP, a national marketing campaign to raise the profile of ESP across LAs and health services and a new website which provides information for parents, professionals and service providers.

Children's Centres: Health Services

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of Sure Start children's centres being used by primary care trusts to channel health services delivery.

Beverley Hughes: We now have over 2,900 Sure Start Children's Centres providing access to a range of multi-agency support services for families with young children. We would expect all children's centres either to be hosting a range of health services on site or to be working closely with their local primary care trust in the planning and commissioning of health services,
	We do not collect national data on the level of primary care trust engagement with centres.

Connexions: Internet

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether there are plans to update the Connexions Direct website.

Beverley Hughes: The Connexions Direct website is regularly updated to a planned monthly schedule, ensuring that the website and associated helpline continue to support departmental and wider government policies, remaining current, topical, responsive, up to date, and relevant to young people and their needs.

Departmental Equality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department met the Civil Service diversity targets set out on page 51 of Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007 by April 2008.

Kevin Brennan: The latest published statistics against overall civil service targets were at October 2007, and are available on the Civil Service website at
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/diversity/monitoring.asp.
	The final measurement against the targets will be published in Autumn 2008.
	The position for the Department as at 31 March 2008 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Diversity Target  Percentage 
			 Women in the SCS 47.1 
			 Women in top management posts 40 
			 Ethnic Minority staff in SCS 1.83 
			 Disabled staff in the SCS 1.83

Extended Schools

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the extended schools allocation  (a) was in 2007-08 and  (b) is in 2008-09 in each English local education authority;
	(2)  what the estimated extended schools funding per capita is for each child of  (a) primary school age and  (b) secondary school age in 2008-09.

Beverley Hughes: Information on local authority extended schools funding in 2007-08 and 2008-09 has been published, and all local authority allocations are available on the Teachernet website at
	www.teachernet.gov.uk
	except Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant 2008-09 allocations, which are available on the Sure Start website at
	www.surestart.gov.uk.
	Other funding is also available to support extended schools, including money available to support personalised learning during and beyond the school day, and money available to support neighbourhood renewal.
	It is for each local authority, in consultation with schools and other children's service partners, to develop a strategy for how this funding will be allocated to help schools develop extended services, based on local needs. It is therefore not possible to determine what the funding per capita is for each child of primary or secondary school age.

Family Law: Mediation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will take steps to increase the number of family law mediation schemes in England and Wales.

Bridget Prentice: The Government are committed to encouraging greater use of family mediation. The Government believe that mediation can have considerable advantages over going to court in the settling of family disputes, especially where children are involved. We are working on a number of measures aimed at raising awareness, and at promoting the use of family mediation in appropriate cases.
	We have established the Family Mediation Helpline and supporting website (0845 60 26 627 www.Familv MediationHelpline.co.uk). sponsored a public awareness campaign, are facilitating judicial and court-staff awareness seminars, and are supporting in-court referral schemes.
	There are already a number of in-court referral schemes, where family mediators work together with CAFCASS and the courts to refer appropriate cases for mediation.
	When implemented, provisions of the Children and Adoption Act 2006 will enable the court to direct parties in child contact disputes to attend a meeting about mediation. Referrals will also be encouraged through changes to court rules and court forms, particularly in relation to disputes over children.
	The Legal Services Commission's proposals to revise the family fee structure will remove the financial disincentives for solicitors to make referrals to mediation. Under the proposals, it would be in the interests of the solicitor to make a referral to mediation and to do so at an earlier stage.

Members: Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when his Department plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 13 March 2008, concerning his constituent, Miss A. Fox which was transferred from the Department for Justice to his Department on 25th March 2008 (reference: 194104) and returned on 25 April 2008 (reference: 2008/0035703PO); and what the reason for the transfer of correspondence was.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The reply has unfortunately been delayed because of an administrative error. My right hon. Friend the Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson) the Minister with responsibility for prisons and I will write to him very shortly.

Parents: Advisory Services

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 952W, on parents: advisory services, how much has been made available to fund the 77 Respect parenting experts; whether the experts will deliver the parenting programmes or refer and manage others in delivering the programme; and what the estimated cost is of funding at least one parenting expert in each local authority in the future.

Beverley Hughes: 3.85 million per year has been allocated for the 77 Respect parenting experts for 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. In addition, funding for additional parenting experts (at least one in every local authority), is being provided: 9 million for 2008-09, 12.5 million for 2009-10 and 12.5 million for 2010-11. The expectation is that both the 77 Respect parenting experts and the new parenting experts will deliver parenting programmes themselves.

Parents: Public Participation

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 952-53W, on parents: public participation, what estimate he has made of the annual cost of  (a) running and  (b) consulting the Parents' Panel.

Beverley Hughes: The answer I gave on 4 June 2008 explained that we are in the midst of a competitive OJEU procurement exercise to appoint an external organisation with the right skills and experience to run the panel. The organisation will also run an associated survey of parents on their confidence in their parenting role and in the support services available to them. The cost will be subject to tender returns from the five short listed bidders and a key selection criterion for the procurement is value for money. It would therefore not be appropriate to prejudice the competitive process by publishing a specific figure.
	The result of the successful bidder's proposal will be announced on 31 July together with the agreed contract value, these details will be published through an OJEU award notice which is universally accessible to all.

Pupils: Incontinence

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues to school nurses on dealing with children with continence problems.

Ann Keen: I have been asked to reply.
	All schools in England were made aware, in June 2000, of the Department's publication Good Practice in Continence Services. The Department also produced a more general guidance document with the then Department for Education and Skills called Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs: A Good Practice Guide.
	It was followed by publication of the NSF Continence Exemplar in October 2007, mapping out a typical case of child incontinence and detailing the services that should be available. This is used by health professionals, including school nurses, as guidance.
	The National Service Framework (NSF) for Children, Young People and Maternity Services: Children and Young People who are ill published in 2004 noted the importance of continence services for children and young people.
	Copies of all these documents have been placed in the Library.

Schools: Admissions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in  (a) Canvey,  (b) Castle Point and  (c) Essex were not allocated places at their first choice school in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: This is the first year that local authorities were required to provide data to the Secretary of State on secondary school offers made to parents on National Offer Day. Data have not been collected at a constituency level. Figures for Essex local authority, in which Canvey Island and Castle Point are situated, show that 19.2 per cent. (3,087) of children resident in that authority who were eligible to transfer to secondary school in September 2008 were not offered a place at their parents' first choice school. 96 per cent. were offered a preferred school. National Offer Day is the first part of the process of obtaining a preferred school so these figures are likely change e.g. outcomes of appeals will have an impact.

Sure Start Programme: Per Capita Costs

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent on Sure Start for each child eligible for support from the programme in each year since it began.

Beverley Hughes: The Department does not collect data on the number of children who are eligible for support from the Sure Start programme. The total spending in each year since the Sure Start programme was established is provided in the following table:
	
		
			   million 
			   Capital  Revenue  Total 
			 1999-2000 3.6 3.2 6.8 
			 2000-01 1.3 32.8 34.1 
			 2001-02 11.0 104.8 115.8 
			 2002-03 82.8 174.3 257.1 
			 2003-04 96.9 308.0 404.9 
			 2004-05 159.7 371.2 530.9 
			 2005-06 353.6 477.6 831.2 
			 2006-07 236.1 603.8 839.9

Vocational Guidance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what arrangements his Department has made to facilitate effective close working between Connexions and the new advancement and careers service.

Beverley Hughes: My officials are working with officials from DIUS on the development of the new adult advancement and careers service to ensure that a joined-up service will be delivered. Both Departments are also working on an all age careers strategy that will make links between careers services for young people and for adults and ensure coherent delivery.

Vocational Guidance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many local authorities are  (a) delivering Connexions services in-house,  (b) sub-contracting services to former Connexions Partnerships and  (c) tendering out to other providers.

Beverley Hughes: The Connexions service operates in England only. Based on the latest information held by the Department, the number of local authorities delivering Connexions services in each of the ways described is as follows:
	 (a) delivering Connexions services in-house: 35;
	 (b) sub-contracting the services to former Connexions Partnerships: 53;
	 (c) tendering out to other providers: 62.

Vocational Guidance: Expenditure

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on careers guidance for young people in England in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: In April 2001, responsibility for providing careers advice passed from the Careers Service to the Connexions Service. Connexions provides services to 13 to 19-year-olds and to people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities up to the age of 24. The following table shows the amount of central Government funding allocated to the Connexions Service and the Careers Service since 1997. Information on the amount spent on careers guidance is not collected centrally. However, an independent study undertaken in 2006 concluded that, on average, around 42 per cent. of a Connexions Partnership's expenditure was on information, advice and guidance.
	
		
			   million 
			  Year  Connexions partnerships  Careers services 
			 1997-98  192 
			 1998-99  210 
			 1999-2000  223 
			 2000-01  233 
			 2001-02 110 173 
			 2002-03 337 52 
			 2003-04 439  
			 2004-05 458  
			 2005-06 464  
			 2006-07 466  
			 2007-08 467  
			 2008-09 469  
			  Note: The above figures reflect the staged way in which Connexions was introduced from April 2001

Vocational Guidance: Training

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department has commissioned research to evaluate the initial training and continuing professional development available to those delivering information, advice and guidance and careers education.

Beverley Hughes: Everyone providing information, advice and guidance to young people on learning and careers should have the skills and knowledge that they need to provide excellent service. To ensure this, the Training and Development Agency for Schools has been asked
	to review the support that ... (they) provide for the delivery of careers education in schools, and (to) consider more widely the further ITT and CPD support needed by all key stage 4 and post 16 teachers to ensure that they are aware of the pathways for progression through the 14-19 phase in school, college and work-based settings ... (so that they) can talk confidently to students about progression, within and from their own subject and (about) the range of qualifications to which their subject contributes'.
	We are commissioning a programme of research that will help us to profile the skills gaps of careers coordinators in schools which will, in due course lead to the development of new training provision. And we are working with the Children's Workforce Expert Group to develop a long-term strategy for the whole children's work force. Future support and development for those providing IAG services will sit within the context of that long-term strategy.